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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
Showing posts with label Going Green. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Going Green. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 29, 2023

Our 4 Sibling Felines will be 16 Tomorrow!

Yes, we are a HOUSEHOLD OF SENIORS...
Five senior kitties and Bandido, Spooky, Spunky and Tiggy-Tiger will be all 16 on March 30.
They are all born here at our home and I was assisting their Mamita when she gave birth.
We rescued Mamita 'Spicy' and brought her home on the plane, from Acapulco, Mexico.
Poor Sacha girl only reached 6 years as she got hit by a car... see post below.
Spunky girl this morning on the windowsill at breakfast time.
YES, she does use 'eyeliner'...
Spunky is a Mackerel Tabby Tiger.
Spooky boy on November 13, 2022, with the elastic that I'd cut off from fitted sheet for using fabric to add to duvet cover making it wide enough for our newest Caribbean down duvet.
They love to play with anything!
Tiggy–Tiger girl on her favorite blanket...
She is a very feisty Mackerel Tabby Tiger girl! 
Bandido (Dido) boy on the cotton mat in front of balcony's sliding door 'indoor shutters' of our bedroom.
He is the most svelte and silky kitty—resembling most his Mamita Spicy.
Dido is also the most vocal of all!

Sixteen is quite an age for any kitty and we both are grateful they all four reached that!


Related links:
{R.I.P. SACHA GIRL} | previous post by me
{Our Felines are 8 Today!} | previous post by me
{Cat Dining Room} | previous post by me
{Our 'GREEN' Bedroom} | previous post by me showing you the indoor shutters that Dido is posing against

Wednesday, December 8, 2021

DELIVERY BLOOPER

 What a sight when looking out of the window and the delivery truck for our new toilet unloaded a vertical package...!
Obviously NOT a toilet...! 😟
My Pieter rushed to the men unloading and telling them it was NOT our toilet.
Haha, we ordered the Right Height American Standard with Everclean surface... which is 1 inch higher than the normal height. But not like the box size about to be unloaded!
We had given permission to leave it in our front porch, so they would not unload it onto our driveway and having us tote it up the stairs...
So glad we JUST happened to be home, ready to go biking as you can tell from Pieter's biking shorts.
The men found our box and it was so very well packed!
Double boxed with lots of padding!
Four days later, it got installed!
Very pleased with this second version, like we have in our master bathroom.
Also had found and ordered this wall mounted toilet brush and holder, chrome and crystal glass, by Axor Citterio made in Germany.
I'd gotten really mad when one of those made in China brushes broke off...
WHY are they selling so much junk, that keeps falling apart and causing a tremendous burden for the environment?
Going Green is our motto and we rather pay a higher price, so it will last a lot longer.

Have any of you ever received the wrong item?

Sunday, June 3, 2018

Wet Monsoon - Magnolia Namnetensis Flore Pleno and BATS

So longing for sunshine and a dry surrounding instead of the soggy lawn that cannot even be mowed! The forecast however does not show such a sunny day in sight... 
Husband Pieter just managed to take this photo with raindrops from our Magnolia Magnolia Grandiflora 'Namnetensis Flore Pleno'.
 They have been blooming but no chance to take a good photo from the balcony.
Rain does make them look wilted sooner...
We did notice this on the driveway... just in front of the cat door?
What IS it.
Pointing to the Attic Gable Vent...
Our Kia Soul with Bike Rack is visible here as well.
Husband Pieter did go up in the attic to inspect...
There is the attic fan, in front of the attic gable vent. Installed in 2011 for Going Green... and for Saving Energy by removing the heat from the attic.
Holding the camera up high and yes, there are bats visible behind the screen!
There they are; little brown bats hanging onto the screen, behind the louvres of the attic gable vent.
Smart mammals for finding such a sheltered spot!
Probably those are juveniles...
But we welcome these Garden Critters to our property.
We have had bat houses for decades but hanging up high on a tree, how does one check on them?
Here it is visible that they are present.

4 Facts About Georgia's Batty Creatures of the Night: Did you know? A single bat may consume 3,000 insects in one night. (click on hyperlink)
Bats! | Georgia Outdoors a beautiful video (click hyperlink) Bats are one of the most important animals on earth...

No, I did not dare to get onto the attic.
Still healing my double (closed) pelvic bone fracture.
June 12 is the date the orthopedic surgeon gave me for having to be without pain; an indication of healing.
So I'm anxious for getting outdoors again, walking and biking!
Did not get to sing and dance at the annual Revue on May 19, at the theatre with my choir... A big disappointment but I understood that the risk of falling could have been disastrous.
So for the time being I've been a Georgia Rebel on Crutch!

Hope you enjoyed reading and thanks for your visit and comment!

Update: Sad that upon our returning home from the mountains at the end of July, 2019 we noticed that the driveway didn't need any sweeping up of the dry droppings.
Pieter did check on the attic and they were ALL GONE! 
Now I got mosquito bites and so did Pieter and before there were none in the driveway or near the home... WE MISS THEM! 
But the next year they were back and we're quite happy!

Related link:
{Going GREEN with Attic Fan} | post from 2011 when Pieter placed the Attic Fan
{Saving Energy and Our Attic} | post from 2013 where Pieter managed to save us more energy with mega project

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

{Who Wants to Become Our New Neighbor? - LOT for Sale}

Yes, we both have made the decision that it is time to SELL our adjacent LOT.
So, the question arises as to Who Wants to Become Our New Neighbor? 
We have a LOT for Sale.
Our adjacent lot where we did cultivate several rare species of trees, shrubs and plants is getting too much to handle for husband Pieter, at his age...
So here it is: FOR SALE
It is to the right of our home.
Maybe somebody else wants to build such an Energy Efficient Green Roofing like we got? You can check out the details here: {Our Interlock Aluminum Aged Copper Slate Roofing}
This is how such Energy Star Aluminum Aged Copper Slate Roof looks like.
We have definitely lowered our Carbon Footprint for the rest of our life.
YES, this roof is guaranteed for LIFE!
Back to the street, where our adjacent lot is waiting for its new owner...
It is approximately 1 acre. 
It is being sold through Century 21
Photos are from October
For all information you can call Century 21 at the number shown below
Or you can email them via contact us at c21dublin.com

Oh, and we promise to be very good neighbors!

Thanks for your visit and wishing you a happy weekend.


Monday, January 25, 2016

{Antique French Léonard Bernardaud (1856-1923) Limoges Table Lamp}

A very rare and unique find from France... being only available at my Zen Cart powered on line boutique Mariette's Back to Basics: Antique French Léonard Bernardaud (1856-1923) Limoges Table Lamp ←click hyperlink.
FREE SHIPPING WITHIN USA: spectrenoir just click it.
You will not even find one at CHRISTIE'S or 1stDibs.com...
This is a beautiful piece of antique, fine white porcelain Limoges table lamp with high glaze from the famous Léonard Bernardaud who lived from 1856-1923.
In EXCELLENT condition and it has been wired by my husband and handyman Pieter.
This in order to change it from French to American wiring.
An Energy Saving light bulb, for going green, has been placed in it, together with a brand new white fabric lamp shade with harp.
Undoubtedly you all know the modern day Bernardaud Lithophane lamps.
The porcelain pattern is called 'VINCENNES' and Replacements Ltd. <(click) does have this in the color purple in their china listing. 
Château de Vincennes is a beautiful Castle in Paris, France. 
Showing you the lovely details of this cobalt blue pattern. At my on line boutique: Mariette's Back to Basics (see link at top of post) you can also find the measurements of this beauty
A true French Country Style 19th Century TREASURE!
Such a romantic design...
It absolutely makes an elegant statement!
Detail of the Bernardaud Limoges Porcelain Marks 

See above Théodore Bernardaud porcelain B & Cie marks sale from Christie's <(click it) and check the value for comparison!

Bernardaud marks

History link


On page 96 in the Collectors Encyclopedia of Limoges Porcelain you will find all the info, history and marks of Bernardaud.
Also the book: Living With Limoges is a very helpful source.
Sold out...

Do you personally own some valuable antique Limoges porcelain?

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

{DIY Squirrel Proof Bird Houses}

Having such a vast property with gardens and trees, results in having lots of birds. 
Since we received our Backyard Wildlife HABITAT Certificate, we always have provided shelter for our garden residents.
But HOW to make Squirrel Proof Bird Houses?
DIY Squirrel Proof Birdhouse built from Scraps.
Since squirrels love to gnaw at the in-flight opening and ruin it, this PVC pipe is the solution!
Front of Bird House is a Natural Red Oak Plank, left from our Office renovation last spring.
Sides, top, bottom as well as back is made from other scraps.
Perch makes it a luxurious New Home for our Feathered Residents!
Husband Pieter created this one, for some of those Birdies that preferred to Go GREEN...
You can see our Wood Trail to the right.
No House NUMBER...
Do you like them?

Related link:
{Our Backyard Wildlife HABITAT Certificate from August 1997} | previous post by me


Wednesday, August 7, 2013

{Our Interlock Aluminum Aged Copper Slate Roofing}

As promised in my previous post about Our Interlock Aluminum Slate Roofing Being Installed, here is Part II. This post will show you also very clear the Aluminum Aged Copper Slate so you finally will understand what it really looks like. 
This is at the end of day two, the front of our home is finished.
We had a crew of three men working very hard. Each late afternoon they gathered meticulously all scrap material and cleaned up. To the left you see one crew member at work.
By the time they left, the place looked tidy and neat.
Now you know... This is Aluminum Slate in Aged Copper. The color looks like terra cotta in a way, depending on the shine of course. It makes a difference if it is a sunny day or not.
If you want to read more about this Energy Efficient GREEN Roofing; you find the Energy Star Roof Product list in a link below this post with full information, also on Reflectance.
The gutter guards are new ones, from Home Depot. The old ones got removed.
Above our veranda and now the bay window area and above the dining room as last part.
Notice the sample spots where husband Pieter did try out our Benjamin Moore paint in Golden Mist?
Here they are, above the dining room and front porch, the final part...
You can see how dirty those gutters and the house are.
Pressure wash was the next thing we had done before having it painted in two coats.
Cloudy, but no rain...
We got so lucky for all those four days that they worked on our roof.
Yep, making progress in lowering our Carbon Footprint for the rest of our life!
Nearing the end...
do you like these Aged Copper Aluminum Slates?
One more detail. They really do look like natural Slates and the Aged Copper is a good color too.
Now the problem we had in February, was that those gutters got all clogged up with the sand that washed down by the rain from the asphalt shingles. The rain water ran over those gutters and than it entered the foundation...
It's done! Hard to capture with such overcast but you get the picture I guess.
Stepping back further...
Very hard to capture this Aluminum roof in Aged copper slate, with its reflection...
How many holly leaves that are on the ground...
Well, I must admit that before the roofers started out, husband Pieter had given all trees around the house a hair cut. Big branches got cut off, especially from the live oak tree.
Also the tree in front of our home lost quite some lower branches.
Lots of HARD WORK!
Tidying up the place...
These two photos are actually from the end of day two but I want to end with this view...
This is May 11, the day after they had come in the morning for gathering all their tools and leave the finished job.
The sky looks so pregnant with rain...
Tiny Tiggy-Tiger girl is dreaming...
By cutting off the lower branches of this tree, the house now is visible once again!
Here you can see that husband Pieter has taken down the wooden balustrade from the balcony...
The painters would start the next week with pressure washing.
Than the caulking and painting of two coats in Benjamin Moore Golden Mist and the shutters also in a darker Chrome Green.
You will get to see the end results soon!
And YES, our gazebo got also a new Interlock Metal Roofing in Aged Copper Slates!
Funny to see that sample spot in Benjamin Moore Golden Mist...
That's how it will be entirely.
New fan for the gazebo as well.
Hope you enjoyed this post and that you learned something about Saving Energy by putting on a Lifetime Aluminum Roof.
This material is available to all of Canada and the USA.
We both are very pleased with it and especially with the lower utility bills we got since!

Related links:
{Our Interlock Aluminum Slate Roofing Being Installed} | previous post by me
Never Re-Roof Again | link with full info, scroll down for reading more
Interlock Roofing | Manufacturer of Lifetime Roofing Systems. Never re-roof again
{Energy Efficient GREEN Roofing Arrived} | previous post by me
{Our Home on March 24 of 2013} | previous post by me showing the BEFORE
{Fighting the Water + Scanning Slides} | previous post by me showing the result of gutters running over...


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

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