To University of Bologna, Vicenza, Venice and via Austria to The Netherlands

We did start early that Monday, October 29.
Via the mushroom farm and hotel Gallo for picking up the Americans at their hotel and off in two cars to the University of Bologna for meeting with Professor of Mycology, Floriano Ferri, an expert with Pleurotus.

Here I'm holding Pleurotus in my hand...

Pieter in Bologna with Professor Floriano Ferri

A lot of translations back and forth between English, Italian and Dutch...
Further Pleurotus discussion at the University of Bologna and there also lunch, as a lack of time.
We went to a private Pleurotus grower in Ferrera, a former student of Professor Floriano Ferri.
On Tuesday, October 30, first to the mushroom farm of the Sartor family.
Around 11:15 we left for Vicenza and after lunch with spawn representative Antonio, we visited a Pleurotus grower in Vicenza.

Pleurotus grower in Vicenza

The very first photo I did show you already some Pleurotus...

With the Pleurotus grower and his wife, spawn representative and our friend Tommaso, American colleagues and Martin, Pieter's former student around the table with a wine and sweet potatoes.
Next day we got up at 5:45 on October 31 and we picked up our colleagues. Together with Martin we drove to Venice and via another Pleurotus farm we were at the airport by 11:00.
We said our good byes to Long Chi Wu and Frank Gabell, as they departed for the USA.

A little bit time for us in Venice and I found an 18ct golden ring with red coral in a rose form.
Matching with the charm I had for decades! Very happy with it.
By 16:30 we all met in Jesolo, resort area near Venice where Tommaso with his wife and Martin's wife and daughter had come to meet us.
After some shoe shopping (gift) we went to a fish restaurant in the direction of home.
Delicious meal and by 23:00 we were back in Asolo and to bed.
On November 1, finally some time for Tommaso's mushroom farms.
Pieter had a meeting with the Sartor staff and I had a coffee at Annelies' and time to write my diary.
We had dinner at Gianni', where Frank stared at his pigeon soup before...
Always delicious home cooked meals, by him and his wife.

We walked in Asolo together.
Wearing my self made woolen skirt. The fabric was a gift from a friend here in Dublin, GA who owned a woolen mill...
On Friday, November 2, we got picked up by Tommaso after he'd checked out for us at the hotel.
Now off to Montebelluna and that yielded lovely black boots for me!
We always have been treated royally.
We said our goodbyes at the mushroom farms, also to Martin and his brother.
Now off into the direction of the Brenner Pass to Austria.

Our hotel from 1981, Staudacherhof' was closed so we sleep at hotel Obermühle.
We had a delicious meal and were on time in bed!
Saturday, November 2 we got up at 7:00 and after a delicious breakfast (oh, how we miss that bread here in the USA) we were riding by 9:00 via Munich.
With a stop in Altenahr, Germany and a quick visit with a dear friend, just as a coffee break, we were at my Parent's home by 19:15 with Babi Pangang from the Chinese restaurant...
We ourselves did drive some 3800 km and in Italy they drove another 1000 km with us.
*
On Wednesday November 7, we had a 25th wedding anniversary of Pieter's best friend.
A lovely day with lots of people we know.
On our wedding anniversary day,  the 10th of November, we flew back to Atlanta, USA...
~~☼~~
Thanks for your visit and comment!

Driving from Budapest, via Austria to Asolo, Italy

On Saturday, October 10 of 1984 we did rise at 6:00 as we wanted to caravan with Pieter's Dutch student back to Italy where he lived and worked for the largest Italian mushroom farm.

Together with the two American colleagues in our rental car we did so at 7:45 as breakfast only was available at 7:00...

We had only done 1515 km but today we would be adding some more!

This is me in Asolo, Italy after arrival and a good night sleep!
Notice my love for roses? I'm wearing here my red coral + gold rose pendant...

Driving all the way from Budapest, Hungary, through Austria...
We ate here in St. Gertraud, Austria at Café-Restaurant Gutschi...

To the Venice area in Italy...

We arrived at Asolo by 20:00 and had now a total of 2390 km.

Husband Pieter took this photo of our Italian friend Tommaso  (l), Long Chi Wu and Frank Gabell, me and the Dutch student who worked and lived in Italy at the time.

After a glass of wine we go out to dinner. Boletus and delicious.

We were tame...!

Hotel Duse, Asolo - Historic Center where we loved to stay!

Sunday, October 28, we got up and had breakfast. 

We both walked around in Asolo, went to the little Church - being very happy!

We both love Asolo and staying at Hotel Duse was always a joy.

Lovely to walk around on a Sunday morning...
Wearing my Scottish Royal Stewart Tartan skirt, my own sewing creation from the fabric Pieter brought me home the year before from his MGA conference trip in England.
Pieter gifted me also the Royal Stewart Tartan woolen scarf + matching gloves.

Asolo's Historic Center is so special!

Medieval Asolo, with its cobble stone one-way roads!
By 11:45 Martin came to pick us up and we went to Tommaso all together.
Rosella had cooked a delicious meal for all of us.
Cozy in the lower part of the big house of his Father, with open hearth fire we enjoyed our lunch!

Martin took us to the Tempio Canoviano from a wealthy artist in Possagno.

Some climbing to do but breathtaking view!

What a lovely Sunday it was in the fall here in Italy!
We went to Monte Grappa and had a coffee with Grappa in their mountain hut.
Even on top of the mountain they grew Pleurotus in bags!

With our American colleagues we visited Bassano del Grappa with its covered bridge over the River Brenta at the foothills of the Venetian Prealps.

Sunday at the end of the day... Martin's wife and child and also his brother.
We rounded things off with a dinner together, specialty of the region at a local restaurant.
That meant pigeon soup!
I will never forget Frank Gabell's face when I did translate this to him...

What a day; stay tuned...
~~☼~~
Thanks for your visit and comment!

HAPPY EASTER 2018

Already for quite a while I had the photos...

So, here I will use them for wishing all my readers a HAPPY EASTER 2018!

Yes, one of my sewing creations, quilted and padded place mats with matching napkins.

Photo got made on Sunday, March 20 of 2005

Gero Zilmeta 528 Menuet silverware and for dessert the Bridal Rose by Alvin in sterling silver.
Fragrant daffodils...

Used here in a table setting for a dear friend on her birthday in 2007

Same as the 1st photo but now with flash light.

Those picture frames are always lovely for individual use at table.

Round silver napkin rings we had made in Indonesia.

Wishing you a HAPPY EASTER WEEKEND!

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My Sewing Creation - My Bridal Gown with Damsel Sleeves

Just like to show you my sewing creation, my own Bridal Gown with Damsel Sleeves...

No don't worry; it was a long one but I had to climb up here for the photo!

Wearing silver Gabor shoes with my gown.

Found this in the German Burda magazine in a size 34 (4).

Wenn Sie besonders zierlich sind und ein wenig Ausgefallenes lieben, raten wir Ihnen zu diesem traumhaft schönen Kleid aus Qiana-Shantung. Die Extra-Schleppe (mit Druckknöpfen befestigt und leicht abnehmbar), die Saumrüsche und die hübschen Ärmel sind mit zarter Valenciennespitze eingefaßt. Stoffverbrauch für Größe 34 auf der Beilage.

Translated from German into English:
If you are particularly dainty and love a little unusual, we recommend you to this gorgeous dress from Qiana-Shantung. The extra drag (fastened with snaps and easily removed), the hem ruffle and the pretty sleeves are framed with delicate Valenciennes lace. Fabric usage for size 34 (4) you find in the description.

I had put the name of my late 1st husband on the Burda magazine's page... as soon as I selected this!

When I was only 15, as a girls group from the MBL - Meisjes Beweging Limburg - Girls Movement from Limburg, my Province in The Netherlands, we got dropped off from the back of a truck with flash lights and a list of things to ask, gather and accomplish.

That was FUN! Together with my best friend Ellie, we of course met some interesting boys from a town, only some 20 km (13 miles) away.

One of them was Jan Van Maris...

Sadly however, he got run over by a postal truck and killed a year later.

Frans Van Maris was his one year younger brother, whom I married.

This photo shows best the added Train with the lace all around.

As well as a clear view of those Damsel Sleeves.

The Bridal Bouquet was done by Frans' colleague Had Philipsen from Helden, The Netherlands.

Still got a photo from Stan Philipsen, his baby-boy but we lost touch.

Me, seated on the Ford Capri of my best friend Ellie's Dad who did drive us to Church.

Had Philipsen did artfully work in those pink Orchids!

My youngest 1st cousin on the Van den Munckhof side was my flower girl and I did make her dress as well. 

Had Philipsen created for her also a matching bouquet.

Entering the Church...

My 1st cousin turning around to see if I follow...

In-between I did manage to visit my Maternal Grandmother who also was my Godmother in the nursing home.

She was not up to being present all day...

During reception time.

My Paternal Grandmother to my left and me with my very long hair and fresh flowers being worked into it.

Yes, that is Pieter, my present husband - congratulating all of us.

From this photo already 3 are residing in heaven; my late husband Frans, my Mom to his right and my Paternal Grandmother...

Photos are fond memories and keep such special moments alive forever.

By the way, this dress still fits perfectly...

Thanks for visiting!

Related post:

{Mom was only 50 days short of her 7th Dialysis Anniversary} | Here I had shown you some photos of Mom and me on my wedding day...

{My Teacher, Mentor, BOSS & Husband over 44+ Years} | How I met my husband Pieter...
{Angels engraved on lucky calendar coin of 1969} | About Pieter and me...

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{Angels engraved on lucky calendar coin of 1969}

It was in June of 1969 when I had read the weekly local paper 'De Echo van Horst' and spotted an advertisement from the practical Training College for Mushroom Growing. So before lunch, I did go over there to apply for the job; and got it. The founder and principal, Mr. Vedder, told me that with my long hair I reminded him of his daughter Lizzy... Later I got to know that cute little daughter of age five. Well, I loved the job, attended also the very first ladies course ever given on the subject of mushroom growing. That was in 1970! Sounds like ages ago that women were not considered to do the very same things as men do... Mr. Vedder turned out to be one of my most favorite teachers. Over the years, thousands of students would agree with me on that! His book, translated into eight official languages, has often been called the Mushroom Bible. It is still available in print in Spanish, as well as in English, at least here in the USA and in Spain. He wrote his first Dutch edition in 1962.

There certainly was a mutual sympathy but nothing else. As I've mentioned before in the blog: {Our Daughter Liz}, that my first cousin Bertie was Lizzy's friend; my paternal grandmother was Pieter's Mom's best friend and my paternal uncle was Pieter's friend at the photo club... I had no inkling that fourteen years later I would become his wife! Up till 1980 I didn't even know his first name as we always referred to him as Mr. Vedder...

Okay, let's pull the curtain of that special year 1969 and have a look: 

Angels are my favorites and on this huge 3.75" (9.5cm) bronze coin they playfully open the curtain ~ so the year can begin! Famous French Engraver G. Simon, designed it and he also had become instantly famous with the design of the 50 cents (centimes) coin for Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco. That made him become the Royal Engraver! He has done numerous coins.

My angel coin is in French, listing the beginning of Spring; Summer; Autumn and Winter. As well as the dates of Pentecost and Christmas.

Things have changed in 41 years!

As the angels pull the curtain at the end of the year 1969, let's have a look at some of the highlights since then:

That's me with the long hair at that time... loving roses already! Some antique French roses from an elderly lady that I helped out for some pocket money at the time.

Pieter at the same age as I am in the above photo... in the Dutch military.

Pieter a couple of years later with a head full of hair...

Our civil wedding at the City Hall in Horst aan de Maas, The Netherlands

Happily married, regardless the jet-lag as we landed the day before from a flight back from Atlanta, Georgia USA to The Netherlands...

After our Church wedding in a parish near Osorno, Chile

Honeymoon in Chile, looking into Argentina. I am proud to have readers from both countries!

At the harbor of Cape Town, South Africa on November 24, 1985.

In front of The White House, Washington DC 1987.

After having lived and worked in Pennsylvania and Italy, we moved back to Georgia, USA into our new build home and my Dad from The Netherlands helped us move in.

With our foster daughter Anita, in Indonesia where we lived and worked in Central Java.

Photo taken for the book: A Profile of Dublin & Laurens County Georgia where our story appeared.

At the banquet of the millennium Rotary District Conference.

Trip to the Geuldal in South Limburg (my former Province), The Netherlands during the May 2000 Mushroom Science International Congress.

Going to our annual Crescendo of the Dublin Laurens Arts Council.

Even get to wear my Dirndl to go to the Oktoberfest that was held bi-annually by our best friends Col. John A.Whigham and Dr. Rebecca Whigham.

Picture taken by our foster daughter Anita after midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. Spooky our cat is in the picture too, on the left of me... he passed away because of heart-worm!

Again for a reception of the annual Rotary Club's District Conference. Since we no longer are International Consultants we at least get to go! We missed so many opportunities while being abroad someplace else... weddings of friends and such.

This picture is taken at a wedding in Dublin, Georgia.

Another Rotary District Conference banquet where they always ask for wearing the 'Dublin' green jacket. Got Pieter a Brioni 30% silk with 70% cashmere jacket from Neiman Marcus Last Call that is a brighter green than they wear here. The Dublin green jacket we once took to the Rotary Club of Dublin Viking in Ireland to the their Club meeting. When they asked what an ugly color green Pieter was wearing we got cured! They were not in agreement in Dublin, Ireland with that being their Irish green. Indeed, from my fashion education I know better so I've taken care of that one.

Anyway, Pieter looks a lot sharper in a Burberry tuxedo than in the green jacket! I am wearing a silk batik top that I've made from an Indonesian formal shawl, being hand painted with gold. Added frogs closures (Brandenburger sluiting in Dutch or Brandenbourgs) that I found in Spain while on a tour there. Lined it with black silk lining from my favorite West Coast specialty store (HUGE!) in San Francisco Britex. That are the perks when you travel the world; you find all the luxury that is out there and happen to come upon the most unique stores... For those of you that sew or design, check out Britex Notions.

Let's end with this and toast to many more happy years in good health!