Mom's 5th Mother's Day in Heaven...
She no doubt is smiling proudly down from heaven because of the many views of her fabulous knitting!
Mom wrote in a letter from September 17, 1986 (my Maternal Grandma's B'day...) that she'd asked the lady from the yarn shop, for placement of her knitted bedspread at the Hiltho Exhibition.
Hiltho Exhibition is every 4 years since 1967, and is the biggest in the South of The Netherlands.
Mom had tried so hard for the Hiltho '86 exhibition from 26 September till 1 October... click link; then click through.
It just didn't work out for having her work displayed at the Hiltho... to have a booth there was too expensive for the yarn store! But the store owner told her she should bring it for the coming winter, to have it as window display instead.
That's what happened and here my Mom is proudly standing in front of the shop's window with her beautiful work!
I'd forgotten that I too had knitted several squares, before immigrating to the USA...
Mom mentioned that in her letter!
This is Mom's letter, neatly handwritten as so many that I received over the years!
Mom was very happy with the offer to have it as window display instead.
She wrote that my sister–in–law Elly, brother Harry's wife, very dedicated was helping her getting all the knitting finished. Elly also had taken the squares apart and rejoined them in a different way, as she'd seen from one of the patients at the nursing home where she worked.
It was quite emotional for making these bedspread photos on February 21, 2014, before going to the hospital again for visiting Mom during her dialysis.
Deep inside I KNEW that this would also be the very last time I would see her alive...
My gut feeling proved to be right.
Less than a year later, I would be up all night and do Face Time with my youngest brother, who sat together with my 2nd brother, at Mom's bedside. Seeing, hearing Mom and talking to her for the very last time.
It was then when I did compose a beginning for a FAREWELL, or EULOGY, to be read...
*
In Dutch:
*
Mom had tried so hard for the Hiltho '86 exhibition from 26 September till 1 October... click link; then click through.
It just didn't work out for having her work displayed at the Hiltho... to have a booth there was too expensive for the yarn store! But the store owner told her she should bring it for the coming winter, to have it as window display instead.
I'd forgotten that I too had knitted several squares, before immigrating to the USA...
Mom mentioned that in her letter!
Mom was very happy with the offer to have it as window display instead.
She wrote that my sister–in–law Elly, brother Harry's wife, very dedicated was helping her getting all the knitting finished. Elly also had taken the squares apart and rejoined them in a different way, as she'd seen from one of the patients at the nursing home where she worked.
Deep inside I KNEW that this would also be the very last time I would see her alive...
My gut feeling proved to be right.
Less than a year later, I would be up all night and do Face Time with my youngest brother, who sat together with my 2nd brother, at Mom's bedside. Seeing, hearing Mom and talking to her for the very last time.
It was then when I did compose a beginning for a FAREWELL, or EULOGY, to be read...
*
Going Home...
Daddy, brothers and sisters, sisters-in-law and partner, nephews and nieces, family and friends...
We are together in warmth and gratitude to honor our Mother.
A dear wife, dedicated Mother for all of us. Her entire life she has given love with an enormous big heart; without asking much for herself.
This last trip of 17 days away from D'n Afhang, was a difficult route for her but she has accomplished it with pride. She wanted to go home with all her heart, for finally putting her tired head to rest close to Daddy, in her own beloved place, where 7 of her 8 children were born.
Eight children, of which I am the second and our eldest sister is now finally again with Mom!
She almost made it for being married to Daddy 66 years; in love and sorrow.
Working hard her entire life, and yet in her way always trying to pamper us.
She was able to cook delicious tomato soup from own cultivation, with yummy fried onions. Her spare ribs with home-made tomato paste and fried onions were also a favorite.
Baking for the entire family she did also with much love and she herself was fond of ginger cake...
She also loved nougat, that I always brought her back from the fun-fair!
She loved to knit and crochet and in the photo she proudly poses in front of the window where her large knitted bedspreads hung.
Together with Daddy she made trips to Germany, and also to Paris and even four times to Georgia in the USA. Proudly she always said she had two daughters in America; one in great America.
On her bike, she often went to little America on Tuesday’s, on market day, with a gift for her first grandchild.
Meanwhile Mom had passed away and that stopped my writing...
Never could finish it...
*Meanwhile Mom had passed away and that stopped my writing...
Never could finish it...
In Dutch:
Naar Huis...
Papa, broers en zussen, schoonzussen en partner, neefjes en nichtjes, vrienden...
We zijn bij elkaar in warmte en dankbaarheid ter ere van ons Moeke.
Een lieve echtgenote, toegewijde Moeke voor ons allemaal. Ze heeft met een enorm groot hart haar hele leven liefde gegeven; zonder veel voor zichzelf te vragen.
Deze laatste reis van 17 dagen weg van d'n Afhang was een moeilijke route voor haar maar ze heeft het met fierheid volbracht. Ze wilde met heel haar hart naar huis om daar op haar eigen geliefde plek, waar 7 van haar 8 kindjes geboren werden, haar moede hoofd eindelijk te rusten leggen dicht bij Papa.
Acht kinderen, waarvan ik de tweede ben en onze oudste zus is nu eindelijk ook weer bij Moeke!
Bijna heeft ze het gered om met Papa 66 jaar getrouwd te zijn; door lief en leed.
Hard gewerkt haar hele leven en toch op haar manier altijd geprobeerd om ons te verwennen.
Ze kon lekkere tomatensoep koken van eigen teelt, met heerlijke gebakken uien. Ook haar ribjes met tomatenpuree en gebakken uien waren een lievelingskostje.
Bakken voor het hele gezin deed ze ook met veel liefde en zelf was ze dol op gemberkoek...
Ze lustte ook zo graag nougat die ik haar altijd meebracht van de kermis!
Breien en haken deed ze graag en met trots staat ze op de foto voor de etalage waar haar grote gebreide bedsprei hing.
Met Papa samen maakte ze reisjes naar Duitsland en ook naar Parijs en zelfs vier keer naar Georgia in de USA. Trots zei ze altijd dat ze twéé dochters in America had; een in groot America.
Op de fiets ging ze vaak op dinsdag, markt dag, naar klein America om haar eerste kleinkind weer iets toe te stoppen.
Ondertussen is Moeke gestorven en kon ik niet meer verder schrijven...
Helaas heb ik het nooit afgekregen...
Ondertussen is Moeke gestorven en kon ik niet meer verder schrijven...
Helaas heb ik het nooit afgekregen...
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This year, on my Angel Sister's heavenly Birthday, I noticed a tremendous increase in views for Mom's hand knitted bedspread, on my Pinterest.
January 11, 2019... Mom's Bedspread was at the TOP!
Hard to believe these figures, yet it was there and on my blog, almost every day, Mom's picture was in the sideline as one of the favorite posts!
Love seeing this photo...
Mom ranks right there in my TOP blog posts and that in only five years!
In seven years she ranks 3rd!
16,309 views...
It made me so happy and feeling oh so proud of her, for being Posthumously Honored for her Knitting!!!
Happy Mother's Day!
Related link:
{Mom's Hand Knitted Bedspread as Window Display} | previous post by me
{HAPPY Mom on her 90th Birthday - THANKS TO ALL OF YOU} | previous post by me, when I took the bedspread photos...
Hello Mariette, Is it really that long since your mother has been gone? She was a talented and lovely woman, and obviously her empathy still reaches out to many people.
ReplyDeleteYour comment about your sister-in-law learning a special stitch from someone in a nursing home reminds us how much special knowledge and talent these people retain, and how much we can still learn from talking to them.
--Jim
Dearest Jim,
DeleteYes, my Mom went to heaven on January 27, 2015 so this is her 5th Mother's Day in heaven!
Time is passing so rapidly and one never knows that is around the bend...
You are so right about the special knowledge older people still retain; if they only were let to pass it on to the next generations. That is how we all learned and nowadays there is very little what the younger generations obtain from only living with their devices and having 'friends' on social media. They lack the real human contact and interaction.
Hugs,
Mariette
Liebe Mariette,
ReplyDeleteherzlichen Dank und sonnige Grüße
Elisabeth
Liebe Elisabeth,
DeleteDir auch einen sonnigen Sonntag gewünscht!
Liebe Grüße,
Mariette
Incredibly beautiful quilt. Fortunately, we have memories.
ReplyDeleteDearest Anne,
DeleteYes, it was an incredible bedspread done by her.
Memories are great and also some messages from heaven...
Can't explain otherwise such enormous number of views that Pinterest posting.
Hugs,
Mariette
Your mother was a beautiful knitter, Mariette! Lovely bedspread.
ReplyDeleteDearest Debbie,
DeleteShe sure was and it almost looks like she appreciates it from heaven as for some mysterious reason those views went so unbelievably high!
Hugs,
Mariette
Beautiful things your Mother make. Hugs Nina
ReplyDeleteDearest Nina,
DeleteYes she did, thank you!
Hugs,
Mariette
It's so lovely that you and Elly were able to help your mom with the making and finishing of this beautiful bedspread and that it was on display for all to see. Your mom's handwriting is so neat. My mom's writing is also very neat while I am a very messy writer (as you may have figured by the cards I've sent :) Have a good week.
ReplyDeleteDearest Tammy,
DeleteIt sure was great for putting this together, together with her. I only helped knit before leaving for the U.S.A.
Mom's handwriting is very neat and her letters are a treasure to have!
Guess it is related to their era, they had to learn it at school, as we still had to but already different.
Never had a problem reading your sweet cards; don't worry about that!
Hugs,
Mariette
Beautiful post full of love:) And the beautiful bedspread!
ReplyDeleteDearest Laucica,
DeleteThank you very much for your kind comment and since you yourself are an excellent knitter and needle crafter, it means a lot to me!
Hugs,
Mariette
A beautiful bedspread that is for sure much treasured. I love the photo of your Mom in front of the display window with her bedspread, she looks so proud of it.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful handwritten letter she wrote to you.
Have a lovely week Mariette.
Dearest Sami,
DeleteThank you so much and yes, she rightly could look proud!
Her handwork as well as her writing always was meticulous, she loved doing it.
As for me, it is a treasure for having hundreds of letters from her, from many years. All scanned now and ready to put by date for reading them once again. Like reading lots of books. Always so kind hearted.
Hugs,
Mariette
That is a really beautiful bedspread your mom knitted. And looks gorgeous displayed in the window. She looks very proud..and she should be :-) The farewell you composed is so touching and heartfelt. Happy Mother's Day to your sweet mom in heaven xo
ReplyDeleteDearest Tamago,
DeleteYes, she had all the rights for looking proud as she'd accomplished quite a mage task and so nice and evenly done.
The farewell never got to be read or whatever but by placing it here, it sure helps the grieving circle and Mom knows it! She no doubt had another lovely Mother's Day in heaven, free of pain and any sorrow. So often I can feel her presence and one day we will meet again!
Hugs,
Mariette
Dearest MAriette,
ReplyDeleteyour dear Mom has been a great knitter! What a wodnerful work and such a lovely Memory!
HAve a good week,
Lots of Love, Claudia xo
Dearest Claudia,
DeleteMom was great in so many ways, her handwriting was also exceptional.
Hugs,
Mariette
Never have I seen a knitted bedspread so perfect, so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteSuch a moving farewell written by you. Beautiful post.
betsy
Dearest Betsy,
DeleteThank you so very much for your meaningful words! Yes, it is a kind of digesting the grieving period and so many emotions are involved. But proud I am about having had such an exemplary Mom.
Hugs,
Mariette
What a heartwarming tribute to your sweet Mother. I had tears in my eyes reading it. Her knitting was beautiful...something I have never learned to do....
ReplyDeleteDearest Janey,
DeleteThank you so much for your warm words here; they truly speak from your heart!
Mom deserved such honor and she was thrilled at that time knowing I had blogged about it. She never got to see it as my siblings never gave my Parents a tablet or whatever for keeping up with some reading or for video calling... SAD!
She was an exceptional knitter indeed and I guess in The Netherlands it got taught well at all schools. Even my Dad knew how to knit, believe it or not, he did knit a dress for our doll. When a neighbor came knocking on the door, he flung it on top of the cabinet in the living room... didn't want to be caught doing this!
Hugs,
Mariette