About Me

My photo
Here I would love to share with you our travels and adventures as international mushroom consultants. MEMOIRS about husband Pieter Vedder, who was a SCIENTIFIC PIONEER in Mushroom Cultivation Education. His practical handbook is in 9 languages and is called the MUSHROOM BIBLE: https://mariettesbacktobasics.blogspot.com/2020/08/modern-mushroom-growing-2020-harvesting.html

Monday, May 29, 2017

May the younger generation come to appreciate the true meaning of FREEDOM...

Indeed: May the younger generation come to appreciate the true meaning of FREEDOM...


click the above link to a previous post written by my husband.

The above photo, taken by my brother Martin Van den Munckhof is so touching.
WILLIAM A. MC KENNA JR from Georgia, resting in Margraten my former Province of Limburg... At the American Cemetery in The Netherlands.

May the fallen heroes that fought for our FREEDOM R.I.P.


Saturday, May 27, 2017

Our Pet Squirrel Eekie & Dachshund Mauzie

Yes, the cutest pet I ever had!
On November 30, 1984, on the day of my Paternal Grandmother's funeral in The Netherlands, I was cleaning windows outside with my chamois leather, here in Dublin, Georgia/USA.
Suddenly I heard some 'peeping' noise and sure enough no young birds could be around at that time of the year...
So I stepped over the fence, chamois leather in hand, and found Casey the neighbor cat chasing a baby squirrel in the garage of our back neighbors.
Scolding Casey the cat, she let go of the squirrel and I scooped him up.
This is a screenshot from an 8mm movie that is shown below...
Pieter was still at work for Campbell Soup in Chicago.
When husband Pieter did come home from Chicago, by 23:30 o'clock with his new Rollei lens, he made the FIRST Pet Squirrel Photo of 'Eekie' -  Eekhoorn = Dutch for Squirrel so I created Eekie.
He was so very sweet and I got him installed in a crate with hamster bedding and food.
Pieter did build him a cage with real branches so he could exercise too.
On Sunday, December 2 of 1984 we had just come home from a weekend with friends in Atlanta. With the fire place warm and cozy, I sat with Eekie in my lap and had cracked him some pecans to nibble on.

On Sunday, January 6 of 1985, we got a kitty harness with leash that Pieter's brother had bought us.
Via special courier it came straight from Horst, The Netherlands to us!
After our two special couriers went home, Pieter did make some 8mm movie segments in our office.

Me in my morning robe as to not get any pulls in my good clothing!
Here Mauzie–girl is seen with her cat–friend Casey, playing near the wood logs.
They sure enjoyed the outdoors and all its garden critters...
Me in my morning robe as to not get any pulls in my good clothing!
Eekie on Sunday, January 6, 1985 with kitty harness on leash in our office in the evening...
Sorry for the poor quality but you can see Eekie on my back and on the chair with Mauzie. 
 Eekie on the chair in our office, climbing on Dachshund Mauzie's back!
He climbs on the back of the chair and you can see him on my lap while I sit on the armrest of the chair... Eekie our pet squirrel now is climbing all over me, on my head, in my neck and down my back.
Very funny pet!
He also loved to cuddle and getting kisses, tickling me with his fur!
As long as he was outside of his cage, he was a happy camper.
Such a cute little baby!
Oh, I would have a zoo, if they let me...
When opening a Pepperidge farm pack of Sugar Cookies (2), Eekie would climb up on you and nibble around it!
Photo shows Eekie doing just that on January 12...
Pieter with Eekie on January 13, in our veranda, just being released from his cage...
Climbing up on Pieter's pant leg...
Oh, I also did walk with him outside and he LOVED climbing up a tree on his leash and than getting back on my shoulder!
Mauzie the Dachshund LOVED to be Mama to other pets!
Once to a Guinea pig, a kitten and now a squirrel...
Eekie the squirrel loved to go 'dog back riding'...
We would walk on the driveway outside when Pieter would be coming home from work.
Such a fun duo!
We are so grateful for having these photos as all our photos from dear friend Natacha, our official house blessing on December 3rd and from Eekie on December 1st got ruined by Kodak and we received a new film roll...!
Eekie did climb up on Pieter's pant leg, and helped with writing the weekly letters to Mother Vedder,
Pieter's brothers and to his adopted daughter Liz.
Eekie is seriously proof reading!
These photos from January 13, 1985 are the LAST photos we got.
Sadly we found him dead on Wednesday morning on the 16th of January.
He'd peacefully crept inside his knitted woolen pouch to sleep and after having him for only 6.5 weeks, he was no more...
Very sad!
While I was knitting Pieter's thick woolen Irish Aran cardigan, he slept in my lap, cuddling underneath my knitting.
So when I was done, I did knit him a square and folded it over to sew it shut like a cone shaped pouch.
Earlier he'd always used paper towels to make a nest and sleep underneath.
Have any of you ever had a pet squirrel?

So happy with the converted 8mm movies by Costco onto DVD (just click it).
Their YesVideo program lets you edit snippets and also share them on Facebook or share via email.
However bad the quality at times, due to molds over the decades and with us crossing the Atlantic Ocean twice, it is a treasure of fond memories!
Thanks for your visit!
Viewed 941 times...

Related links:
{My Hand Knitted Irish Aran Men's Vest} | previous post showing from which I did knit Eekie's pouch
{World Animal Day 2013 and My First Pets} | previous post showing Mauzie girl my Dachshund
{World Animal Day started in 1931 in Florence, Italy} | previous post showing Mauzie with her kitten Bartje and Guinea pig Mira and with the Eifel Tower in Paris...

Thursday, May 18, 2017

210 Countries Visited - Welcome Sierra Leone

On May 15, my humble blog got visited by the 210th Country - Welcome Sierra Leone! 


According to the World Factbook, Sierra Leone is situated in West Africa.



Thanks for your visit!


Related link:
{209 Countries Visited - Welcome Tonga} | previous post by me

Tuesday, May 16, 2017

REVUE 2017 with our CHOIR & Memories of MOM

On May 6 we did perform for the REVUE 2017 with our Choir at the local theatre, together with 3 younger girl choirs; Mockingbirds, Hummingbirds and Knightingales.
We are called the Empty Nesters, the Knight Owls and all under the leading of Kelly Knight.
For me it was the very FIRST time to participate with those Empty Nesters and some of them performed 6 times already.
Here above we are dressed up for our Song: FEVER
It is singing and dancing...
REVUE 2017 We Are Strong click link to complete video from TV35 WDIG
At Minute: 10:46 you find our song: FEVER
Husband Pieter did snap this photo from me in my FEVER outfit, before I left for the Matinee performance at 2:00 PM and again at 7:00 PM.
Wearing my Escada silk blouse with Red Roses over new black Wolford leggings that arrived by special courier.
For the actual performance I wore these Chanel shoes with low heel...
Silver & Gold set of jewelry from TANE, México City, the Tiffany of Mexico.
Those are the special things we found during our time of Consulting when staying at the Camino Hotel Polanco Mexico.
They had great boutiques!
Necklace, bracelet, earrings and ring.
My spot was top left, on the risers.
Here we sing: HOME, which is visible at minute: 42.14 on the Youtube video.
For this song some ladies just had toned down their outfit; no boa, shimmery top or hat...
WOW, here we all turned into ROCK STARS by singing: JOURNEY at minute: 1:02:00 on the Youtube video.
Well, on Tuesday May 2nd during rehearsal at the theatre, on the risers, I did fall off towards the end.
I had practiced all my steps at home, in front of my Mac's full screen with video and on the solid oak plank floor of our office...
Boy did I have to reprogram my brain for making tiny baby-steps on the narrow risers!
Nothing broken, only my left thumb got bruised, my right underarm and feet.
So for that purpose of having to perform on the risers, I did NOT wear these Escada sandals...
Top is a bargain from Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5th.
A Karl Lagerfeld cropped top with a leather look rose appliqué and buttons with roses.
Coming close to the desired look of Leather Moto Jackets and jeans.
Thinking about Singing, I know in my heart that my Mom would have been so proud of her eldest daughter performing as a 1st soprano, just like she did for three decades!
And Mom was wearing the perfect outfit for JOURNEY when her photo was taken here in Macon, Georgia in 1996...
Missing her once again around this Mother's Day but I could certainly feel her presence.
She is always near and safely in heaven with my eldest sister!
Right after we performed JOURNEY, we moved closer together for performing our final song: WHEN I FALL IN LOVE
The ending of WHEN I FALL IN LOVE... (made popular by Doris Day).
Husband Pieter did enjoy the evening performance and I will one day watch the entire video of almost 2 hours.
What a special gift from one of Dublin's Talented Ladies that had the vision for teaching young girls for 20 years now! 
What an impact it has had on our community and it taught them so much more than just singing!
So many young girls benefited from being taught confidence, poise, grace and expression!
Well, we, the 'mature girls' did also learn so much.

And the audience loved it!
Could not believe this incredible deal when I received my email notification from Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5th.
Only US $ 39.99 so I snatched that up right away!
You'll dazzle in this glossy textured cropped top...
Love this fashion score!

Hope you enjoyed this little mention.
We are off now for 3 months, without any rehearsals and certainly look forward to starting again with this fun group!

Thank you for your visit!


Related links:
Journey - Don't Stop Believin' (Live in Houston) - Youtube video with 44 million views!
Journey - Faithfully (Official Video) - Youtube video with 67 million views!
Journey - Any Way You Want It - Youtube video with 21 million views!

{Mom Did Wear Many Hats} | previous post by me




SaveSave

Friday, May 12, 2017

Garden Miracles After the Late Frost

On March 31, I've taken photos from some more tender pot plants on our patio and around the gazebo.
Having lived a sheltered life all winter, inside the greenhouse, they were now ready to move outdoors.
Spooky boy is always following you, like a loyal doggy... being a feline though.
Azalea is so HAPPY as one of Our Pot Plants!
Cleaning up the patio didn't make sense yet, or you could repeat it every day.
Catkins falling and frozen and dead leaves...
A very happy Hibiscus, the latest 'RESCUE', as Pieter loves to bring home neglected and abused pot plants from Home Depot and by placing them straight into a larger pot with good potting soil and being sheltered inside the Greenhouse, it LOVED us right back!
Our Staghorn Fern came out of the greenhouse for living one more year on the remainder of the special saved stump.
However, the stump is being worked over by the woodpeckers and such so each year there is less and less!
In the back you still see the frozen Japanese Magnolia leaves being brown.
This was such a delight on March 31!
Our variegated Bougainvillea was in FULL bloom while in the greenhouse...
Joy for the blooming Bougainvillea but what a SAD sight was this totally frozen Pommegranate tree...
BUT - Miracles do happen in nature!
This photo and the next are taken on May 8, and sadly there is only ONE Bougainvillea flower left...
But LOOK:
Next to the Bougainvillea this young Pomegranate tree has gotten completely NEW LEAVES!
Still you can see some of the dead, brown ones from the March 16 Frost.
Oh, one of our cat boys comes following me of course!
Closer to our Greenhouse, there is the 2nd young Pomegranate tree and here you see the very same young green leaves with some of the wilting frozen and brown ones.
That makes one very happy!
Both of us LOVE this Antioxidant SuperFruit.

Need to get out and weed our garden as on May 20 we will have people come for a Garden Tour, a fund raiser of one of my Knight Owls Choir members.
And yes, we did perform on Saturday the 6th at 14:00 and at 19:00 o'clock at our local theatre.
Together with the younger Mockingbirds; Hummingbirds; Knightingales we sang, danced and performed.
The full DVD of both performances will be available by the end of the month so finally all choir members can enjoy it too!
Husband Pieter was very impressed by this 20th Anniversary Revue.
All because of one single woman, our talented Leader Kelly Knight (hence our names Knightingales and Knight Owls...).
What a great asset to our community!

Will soon be catching up with your blogs and thanks for your visits here.


Related links:
Our Japanese Magnolias got Twice New Leaves | Previous post by me
{Dreaming of BIG Pomegranates from our own...} | previous post by me
{Growing Pomegranates the Ancient Persian Superfruit} | previous post by me


Thursday, May 4, 2017

Naylor Hall in Roswell Georgia for Dutch KONINGS DAG

Yes, I am late for posting this but that is due to the upcoming Revue with our Choir...
Will soon be able to visit others and to catch up on life!
But yes, husband Pieter and I did go to the annual Dutch event at Naylor Hall in Roswell, GA near Atlanta.
Always great to meet with the Dutch community here in Georgia.
Both of us feel very proud that they are one of the Ten Largest Foreign FDI Investors in Georgia!
Click the pink hyperlink and see that they rank 4th...
Thursday, April 27 on a bright sunny afternoon!
We had rain showers in the morning...
We had come the long drive to Roswell once again.
Stopping at Costco for picking up our DVDs with old 8mm movies.
Checking in at the Hyatt Place Atlanta/Alpharetta/North Point Mall first and than only a few miles driving to the lovely Naylor Hall.
We arrived there as FIRST guests for Valet Parking!
Not a good photo due to the harsh sunlight...
Husband Pieter who would celebrate a special double-digit Birthday two days later!
Feeling relaxed for being in time. The traffic was not bad at all for once!
Yes, wearing some orange for the House of Orange...
We were here 8 years ago with Pieter's Goddaughter and her partner Toine.
Special memories!
The Valet Parking crew standby for the majority of the guests.
Wearing my Escada jeans and blouse.
Comfortable for the long drive.

You can see more photos here from the Naylor Hall FB Page,  just click the link.

We still enjoy the complimentary orange tulips!

Thank you for your visits and soon I will be 'off duty' and visit you!

Related posts:

SaveSave

Tuesday, May 2, 2017

My 2nd Fleur de Lys Crocheted Curtain is Hanging

Well, by hand crocheting those huge Fleur de Lys Curtains; I learned anew about PERSEVERANCE.
Feeling so very happy to have this 2nd Fleur de Lys curtain up and hanging; after only some 50 hours of crocheting!
On March 14, Speed Crochet... My final 1.5 Fleur de Lys.
After all, it was only HALF the size of the first one I did crochet in about 100 hours.
The crocheted table topper with roses was a gift from my dear friend Ellie.
An elderly lady Mia Keizers, in her 70s, did crochet that one.
The woolen rug also has the Fleur de Lys pattern.
Both of us are very pleased with the new curtains.
Husband Pieter even called it our home's prettiest room. Also with the view we have from here.
Our proud collection of Delfware houses, earned on KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.
If we only had the time to sit here, relax and read...
Having done this task, I need to catch up on so many other things!
And we are getting slower as we age.
Cannot complain though.

Thanks for your visit!

Related links:
Mega Task Crocheting DONE | previous post by me about the 100 hours of crocheting
{After 40 years Something's Gotta GIVE...} | previous post by me about the reason and the start...
{Our Veranda} | previous post by me
{Fleur de Lys in our Veranda} | previous post by me


Copyright:

MARIETTE'S BACK TO BASICS © 2009. All rights reserved - Text and images may not be copied for distribution or sale.

213 Countries visited with 277 flags since:

free counters

Total Pageviews

Blog Archive

Google Analytics

Labels

4th of July (8) Accordion (7) Advent (24) ALL SAINTS DAY | ALL SOULS DAY (2) Aluminum Roofing (11) Amaretti cookies (15) American Airlines (4) American Mushroom Institute (2) Angels (123) Angels We Know By Name (12) Archiving (29) Arizona (19) Australia (25) Auto Immune Disease (12) Ava Grace's closet (10) Baccarat Crystal (65) Backyard Wildlife HABITAT Certificate (8) Barlow Tyrie Capri Lounger (2) Bathing Suits (10) BB and L (4) Belgium (2) Benjamin Moore (14) Biking (33) Birthdays (38) Blissful Relationship (113) Blog Award (20) Blog Pageviews (14) Blogger I Admire (33) Blogger Tips (27) Bobèches (6) Bok Tower (3) Bridal Gowns (6) Britex Fabrics (12) Britex Notions (10) Bulgaria (3) Burberry (31) Burberry Tuxedo (5) Bypass Surgery (8) Cable Car (5) Camille Tharaud (9) Campbell Soup (42) Canada (31) Canada Rail Vacations (4) Candles (40) Carbon Footprint (10) Carillon (2) Cat Nurse (1) Cathedral/Basilica/Church (88) Ceramic Chandelier (6) Certified Podologist (2) Chanel (20) Chaperon (5) Cherubs (20) Childhood (19) Chile (7) China (15) Chocolate (33) Christie's (28) Christmas (63) Christofle (28) Christofle (Memoire) David Rosenberg (11) Chronic Kidney Disease (15) Citizen Journalism (8) CitizenM (2) Coffee Cup (5) Colonnade Outlets at Sawgrass (8) Communism (14) Conference (35) Congress (29) Consulting (152) Costco (2) Countries visited (38) Courtesy (1) Croatia (1) Curaçao (14) D.S. Mullis (Author) (1) Dad (115) Damixa (7) Danish (6) Daughter (69) De Gaerde (1) Declaration of Independence (5) Delft Polychrome (1) Delftware houses (10) Delta Airlines (11) Denmark (2) Dessert (10) Diabetes (13) Diabetes type 2 (22) Diabetes type 2 Recipe (10) Dialysis (12) Dieng Plateau (2) Dining with Royalty (1) DMC (28) DNA (6) Doensen Sfeerhaarden (2) Domain Name (1) Door Décor (1) Doris Plaster (1) Down Duvets (6) Dupuytren's Contracture (3) Dutch American Heritage Day (5) Dutch King's Day (5) Dutch Queen's Day (4) Dweilen (3) Easter (25) Eco Friendly (31) Eco Storage (4) Edible flowers (11) Education (79) Edward Bok (5) Energy Star (10) England (16) Escada (138) Etiquette Training (5) Fairmont Hotels (16) Family (166) Family Memories (117) Filet Lace (12) Filet Lace Embroidered (4) First Lady Melania Trump (2) Fleur de Lys (11) France (6) FREEDOM (11) French (72) French Country Style (55) French Lavender Sachets (5) Friendship (273) From Pilgrim to President (2) Genocide (2) Georgia (36) Georgia State Flag (4) Germany (12) Gero Zilmeta 528 Menuet (17) Gevaphone (4) Gift from Blogger Friend (36) Gillis Video (7) Giovanni Raspini Charms and Co (42) Giovanni Raspini Silver Desk Items (11) Giovanni Raspini Silver Frames (11) Giovanni Raspini Silver Gifts (17) GIVEAWAY (23) Going Green (36) Graham H. Boonzaaier (5) Grand Canyon (4) Graze Picking (1) Hand Crocheted (105) Hand Embroidered (28) Hand Knitted (29) Hand made Lace (23) Happy New Year (10) Hawaii (5) Healthy Heart (20) Healthy heart recipe (27) Healthy Living (73) Heart Attack (19) Heeroom (13) Helicopter (2) Hermès (2) High Tea (8) Highlights of the Mississippi Cruise (8) Holocaust (1) Hong Kong (7) House Blessing (2) Hungary (16) Hurricane (4) Hyatt (117) I Will Follow Him (1) India (44) Indonesia (23) Interlock Metal Roofing (15) International Workshop & Seminar (2) Irok gallery (13) ISMS (34) Italy (58) Japan (7) Kashmir (9) Kichler Xenon Under Counter Lights (2) KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (57) Kruisherenhotel (1) Lace (6) Lacquered Brass Window Decorations (14) Lampe Berger (11) Lampes Berger A Century of History by Gérald Vilcocq (10) Language (67) Last Call by Neiman Marcus (24) Lavender Sachet (4) Le Chameau (2) Le Jacquard Français (37) Leather Coat (3) Leather Garments Factory (12) Leather Shorts (2) Leather Skirt (3) Leather Vest (5) Leprosy Infection (5) Leprosy Project (10) Leprosy STIGMA (8) Limburg (48) Limoges (18) Limoges Table Lamp (7) Log Cabin (6) Logee's (12) Maharaja Amarinder Singh of Patiala (1) Mainstream Media (1) Margraten (6) Marl Caves (12) Mason's Patent Ironstone Mandalay (18) Maximum Baggage Weight (10) Meeting Blogger Friend (9) Mega Task (33) Memorial Day (8) Mexico (22) Miele (18) Millinery (13) Mom (129) Montblanc pens (1) Moral Compass (19) Mushroom Cultivation (73) Mushroom Editorial Review (24) Mushroom Quality Criteria (23) Mushroom Technology Transfer Seminar (10) Mushrooms Canada (4) Mushrooms in our Garden (19) My Boots (26) My French Connection (2) My Hats (18) My Publications (7) My Sewing Creation (54) Nativity Scene (6) New Netherland (2) New Orleans (11) New Orleans School of Cooking (2) New York City (28) Organ (15) Original Content (30) Ormolu (6) Our Balcony (17) Our Bathroom (8) Our Bird Feeders (10) Our Bird Houses (16) Our Bridges and Wood Trail (58) Our Canine (31) Our Dutch Clock (3) Our Felines (160) Our Fiberglass Window Boxes (34) Our Flower Bulbs (67) Our Flowering Shrubs (134) Our Flowering Trees (29) Our Flowering Vines (37) Our Flowers (63) Our Fragrant Flowers (172) Our Garden (59) Our Garden Critters (78) Our Gazebo (57) Our Greenhouse (22) Our Home (163) Our Life in Indonesia (76) Our Life in Italy (36) Our Magnolias (55) Our Palm Trees (20) Our Pet Squirrel (1) Our Pond (28) Our Pot Plants (52) Our Rose Arbor (5) Our Rose Suite (16) Our Roses (61) Our Shrubs (7) Our Trees (53) P.J.C. Vedder's Memoirs (183) P.J.C. Vedder's Publications (84) Patio (35) Pearls (27) People to People Citizen Ambassador Program (28) Plagiarism (6) Poem (1) Poinsettia (7) Poland (1) Pond's India (23) Pre-Diabetes (9) Prednisone (9) Princess Diana (10) Quercus Virginiana Grand View Gold (32) Quotes (61) Religious Paper Lace (2) Relive (54) Replacements Ltd. (19) REPOUSSE Silver (10) Resilientista (31) Ristorante da Maria (35) Romania (5) Romantic Boxes with Pansies (2) Romantic Rose Boxes (7) Rose Jewelry (10) Rose silverware (65) Rose Stepping Stones (5) Roses (6) Rösle (7) Rotary International (5) Royal Mail (1) Saint Nicholas (13) Saint Valentine's Day (14) Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5th (12) Santa Barbara Plantation (3) Santa Claus (12) Saving Energy (18) Scraped Content (9) Serbia (2) Servitude (1) Silver Knife Rests (19) Sinden Award (13) Singapore Airlines (1) Singing (35) Sinterklaas (10) Skiing (5) Socialism (7) South Africa (20) Spain (1) SPAWN MATE SYMPOSIUM (2) Spectrenoir (95) Storage and Organizing (6) Super Power Readers (4) Sweden (2) Switzerland (13) Table Setting (32) Taiwan (3) Tanner Krolle (4) Tavel (1) Tea (25) Tea Cup (15) Thailand (2) Thanksgiving (11) The Bridge (13) The Netherlands (22) Theodore Haviland France (2) Toile de Jouy (5) Tornado (3) Toyota RAV4 (14) Transparent Acrylic Bolts and Nuts (3) Travel (436) Travel by Rail (25) Tropical Thunderstorms (4) Uncle Bo Whaley (17) UNESCO World Heritage Site (22) United States Citizenship (10) United States Flag (12) Vases (100) Viking River Cruise (10) Vintage Lampe Berger (13) Vintage Woodworks (33) Vinyl Picket Fence (22) Water Control (20) Wedding (13) Wedding Anniversary (20) WeFie (14) WGXA.TV (3) Wolford (22) Wool Fedora Hat (8) World Bank (2) World Leprosy Day (4) World Polio Day (3) Writing (92) Yves Delorme (8) Yves Saint Laurent (3) Zegna (12)