LOVED singing in Händel's Messiah

MUSIC is FOOD for the SOUL

Even more so when it is being composed by Georg Friedrich Händel...
December is a busy month for ALL, but I did commit myself to sing in one more choir since it is our favorite: Händel's Messiah!

Second row from the top, 2nd from left behind lady in sleeveless dress, I'm singing my heart out as a soprano.
We sang 7 songs and in-between we had a tenor, bas, alto and soprano sing a solo.
The Orchestra played great and we only rehearsed together with the orchestra, the day before!
Twice we'd rehearsed + performed on the actual day though!
Our local TV35, did capture the entire performance: Handel Messiah at Theatre Dublin click this link.

In the above screenshot from full video, finally the drummer and trumpet players are being shown as well!
I'm just sitting down here...
Husband Pieter did enjoy both performances and felt very proud of me singing with the choir.

That was our Händel's Messiah, with Georgia Southern University Magnolia String Quartet
First United Methodist Church Chancel Choir and Orchestra

No doubt, it made my Mom smile down from heaven, hearing her 2nd daughter sing soprano, like she used to do in her choir...
My Paternal Grandmother also sang as soprano, together with her friend my Mother-in-law who was a 2nd soprano.
Of course, my Dad who still sings but no longer as a first tenor.
Just learned that Dad quit singing, due to his severe flu recently he has said his farewell to the choir...
Used this link of:  Händel's Messiah since it was spelled correctly!

Encyclopedia Brittannica shows it correct: Georg Friedrich Händel with the German Umlaut, which can also be replaced by 'ae' as: Haendel.

Only 3 days earlier, Pieter snapped this photo from part of our choir the Knight Owls, performing at the annual Christmas Revue. Me, 2nd row, 2nd from left...
Since my double. closed pelvic bone fracture I no longer dare to stand on the top riser!
We do have lots of talent in this group and it feels warm and fuzzy to belong!

This is what I was wearing when performing with the Knight Owls at different events and since the Christmas Revue we also did perform at two local nursing homes.
My Escada Jacquard Knit Rose Sweater with a wide belt (from Indonesia) on Wolford leggings.
 Fake fur leg warmers from Walmart that I did fold over my boots from Italy and fake fur fingerless gloves from Walmart.

Husband Pieter and I are facing our 35th Christmas, without any family nearby.
To both of us, Christmas is the pure religious meaning.

Only in 2004, we did have our foster-daughter Anita staying with us.
Fond memories!
Still wear my hair calf boots and skirt from Escada with black sweater.
Cat boy Barty on the left is still with us but not Spooky on the right who died at age 3.5 because of heart worm...

 Wishing each of you a Merry Christmas! 

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{My Laurèl Jeans Suit with Escada Booties}

Oh my, how I long for the cooler weather...

Again a throw back into February 24 of 2016 where I enjoyed wearing my Laurel (Escada group) Jeans Suit with my Escada Booties.

Of course together with my companion Spooky boy.

In front of our Magnolia Grandiflora Namnetensis Flore Pleno.

Happy with life, happy with the weather!

Thanks for your visit

Related link:
{Sisters Dressed Like Twins} | previous post by me showing this very Jeans Suit

google.com/+MarietteVandenMunckhofVedder

{Feeling Pampered with Silk/Wool Cap from Blogger Friend}

Oh my, on Christmas Eve, I was for the last time out of the house and than a very bad flu floored me literally.

Did not even notice that 2015 ended... it went past me.

Only on my Dad's 95th Birthday I managed to be up in the late morning and call him in The Netherlands.

From than on I improved, but did not want to be out in the nippy, windy weather as the warm temperatures from Christmas had suddenly dropped, even getting some night frost.

What a surprise when on Thursday, January 7, the mail delivered a parcel from France.

A sweet hand knitted gift from Anett from the blog: Faden Stille whom I follow since 2010. We have become virtual friends!

Friday, January 8, I did join Pieter for Rotary lunch and afterwards I did wear my silk/wool cap for taking a walk. Wearing of course my coat as well!

Spunky girl looks fluffy during the cold weather.
Me, showing off my crows feet from a great smile...!

Driveway is still damp and the weather dreary looking...

But our Verbena continues blooming inside the fiber glass window boxes from Flower Framers of Cincinnati!

Enjoying my Chanel boots; bought from tip money for consulting work in California!

You can read more about that here: {My Favorite Boots}

My silk/cashmere Jodphurs from Bergdorf Goodman 1994 still fit me perfectly and I love wearing them in winter time.

Matching cables in my Escada silk/cashmere sweater from December 26, 1993 - actually my very first Outlet score bought at Potomac Mills in Prince William, VA. We were traveling by car to the funeral of our Jewish friend in Delaware when we stopped at this Mall for lunch.

Thanks a lot Anett for so much WARMTH!

It warms the heart and the ears on a nippy winter's day...

google.com/+MarietteVandenMunckhofVedder

{Happy with my Escada Stretch Pants}

On Good Friday, April 3, it was already lovely weather and we were out in the garden and our gazebo.

Happy with my Escada Stretch Pants

Never we can walk alone, there is always that cat-magnet and they love to be held and cuddled.

This is Bandido, Spooky's brother and one of the four remaining siblings.

Sure, picking them up, you get covered in pollen as that is everywhere around this time.
Yes, I'm also chained... wearing my 22 kt gold belly chain since the early 90s when we lived and worked in Indonesia.

Also love my suede Cole Haan lace-up boots for walking!

Spicy (a.k.a. Speckie) is on the floor...

These pants do have some velvet strips along the sides in a very dark brown, almost black.

Haha, pollen on the floor, and left is Bandido, center is Speckie and Barty to the right...
That's one of my favorite weekday stretch pants.

google.com/+MariettesBacktoBasics

{My Italian Boots & Escada Leather Vest and Shorts}

Having done consulting for the Italian company near the Venice area, before we actually started working and living there full time, did yield me some buttery soft Italian boots as a GIFT. Leave it to the Italians for presenting you with the most elegant and luxurious gifts! They know how to do that. These boots were bought in Montebelluna, province of Treviso, Italy on November 2, 1984. They are entirely lined with the softest leather and have a little heel.

That's me out for a walk. Nancy Sinatra sang it already: These boots are made for walking...

Leather vest from Escada with leather shorts from Escada; both entirely lined and also buttery soft.

Wool sweater by Escada and my old lace tights...

With the sun out it is hard to look at you...!

So let's turn around and you get to see my lace tights with back seam and the little heels.

Our kittens are well disciplined; evidence that those tights survived many, many years!

Are you wearing anything made out of leather; besides your shoes, belts and handbags?

Related links:
{My Old Boots Rejuvenated & New Sweater} | previous post by me
{My Favorite Boots} | previous post by me

Mariette on Google+

{My Old Boots Rejuvenated & New Sweater}

On January 1st I did show you some photos that I want to explain a bit further here. My Old Boots are actually over 30 years old and I did rejuvenate them with some Tacco Deluxe Full-Length Orthotic Insoles from Germany. The New Sweater is from Saks Fifth Avenue where I got it for 60% off and Free Shipping; shown towards the end of post...

How did I rejuvenate those old suede boots with teddy lining?

The wear and tear was mostly inside and I found on line from Tacco some Deluxe Full-Length Orthotic LEATHER Insoles. Love to walk in these boots! You can see those soles below the first pictures.

The skirt I am wearing is a cow hide Escada from the Outlet.

Panty hose are French DIM Ventre Plat in the color: Emotion.

These boots are made for walking...

Same boots in my home in Horst, The Netherlands with Mauzie-girl my Dachshund

This is around 30 years ago...

Tacco real leather Footcare, made in Germany

Detail of leather insoles

This leather Tacco Black Deluxe Orthotic supports your medial arch and metatarsals.

That makes ALL the difference for walking.

Manhatten Wardrobe Supply - Tacco Deluxe Full-Length Orthotic Insole

Click on hyperlink above for info.

Saks Fifth Avenue Opening Ceremony Pom-Pom Wool Sweater

Love this cropped sweater and got mine in Small.

Now the price went up again and is only available in Medium and XSML

It pays off to receive emails from Saks Fifth Avenue for their special deals!

Are you shopping on line too?

Related link:
{Let It Be A Happy New Year} previous post by me with same sweater
Saks Fifth Avenue  on line for checking sales or fashion fix bargains

Mariette on Google+

{Let It Be A Happy New Year}

Indeed; Let It Be A Happy New Year for 2013! Above all in good HEALTH and may we all be SAFE. We all lost loved ones and also lived through happy moments and now the memories remain as we move on. For the end of the year we both wanted to toast with an Italian Roscato Rosso Dolce that we got at World Market Cost Plus. So let us toast to all of you and thank you for your loyalty throughout the year...

Just poured this delicious Roscato into our French Baccarat crystal champagnes. 

Our Camellias are blooming very pretty right now.

Winter Rose is an appropriate name for them!

The red box with Mon Cheri chocolates from our German 'son' and family SURVIVED 2012 but they will be short lived in 2013... They are pure bliss, together with a coffee.

On a sunny day it looks really nice outside...

This is our Camellia Japonica Debutante.

Showing you the detailed hand crocheted lace that my friend Ellie gave me in 2010.

An elderly lady in Sevenum, The Netherlands made them...

Cheers from our Gazebo, in  the sunshine. We did go for a walk in the afternoon, wearing my hair calf Escada skirt and moccasin boots.

Together with Tiggy-Tiger our little feline girl...

Wishing you all a Safe, Healthy and Happy 2013!

Related links:
{Happy New Year - 2012} previous post by me
{Our New Year's Eve Dinner at Ristorante da Maria} previous post by me
{A LAST Toast to 2011... framing its STERLING MOMENTS!} previous post by me
Roscato Rosso Dolce at World Market Cost Plus

Mariette on Google+

{My Favorite Boots}

For a consulting job in California, we did receive a TIP of $ 950.00 so I was going to splurge on something, while shopping in San Francisco; my favorite city. Numerous times we went there for our work and so I loved to shop at Neiman Marcus in San Francisco and I. Magnin (was there also at the fare-well-sale on October 23, 1993. LOVED their catalog as well. One of my all time favorite stores and it was sad to see them going out of business. But back to Neiman Marcus. After visiting the Chanel boutique, where they didn't have my size boots, I got them at Neiman's and had them shipped via UPS to Georgia, to save on the sales tax. What a royal feeling to possess these special boots! We both celebrated this acquisition at our favorite little restaurant on the 3rd floor of 116 Maiden Lane; AKIMBO. We've been there many times, also for some coffee with dessert while shopping at Union Square. But that too is no longer there. Nostalgia...

Still love these oh so soft and comfy boots. Actually I wore them yesterday when we went shopping in Atlanta. 

The weather was sunny and my boxy Escada rose sweater was enough for going outside. These pictures were taken a couple of days ago in our garden.

This Escada rose sweater is jacquard knit.

On the steps of our gazebo so husband Pieter could zoom in on the buttons of my boots.

Someone once joked about making those buttons into currency... But I hope they will stay on my boots for many more years!

So this is still a great memory of California in many ways.

Mariette on Google+