FINALLY SUNSHINE

 

Sweet orchids in heart shaped cachepots for Saint Valentine's Day, but never a moment with enough light to capture them...

Photo taken on February 21, when we finally had LIGHT... After way too many dreary, rainy days!

Yay!!!

Sunshine makes all the difference in the world!

Are you having bright days?

Dad Sang Solo on Mom & Dad's 50th Wedding Anniversary

 On Saturday, February 26, 1949 Mom & Dad got married by Dad's Maternal Uncle; Heeroom

Back then, they were not allowed to get married during Lent. Ash Wednesday was on March 2nd; Easter on April 17.

Mom & Dad after Church back at her Parents' place where they celebrated.

Posing against a straw mat here. Still remember the many uses of those mats, back in the 1950s.

Mom's black georgette dress in a size 6, or 36 European.

She was very slim back then and also taller.

Got this photo via FB from my First Cousin Maria Van Hoek-Gielen (her Mom was my Mom's sister).

Professional photos made earlier at a studio

Photo from Heeroom, on his second departure to Timor, Indonesia on April 21, 1949, less than two months after he blessed Mom & Dad's matrimony.

He was one of my most favorite people and I've written him several letters over the years.

On the day of our arrival, our final visit to Dad in The Netherlands, we talked a lot about Heeroom.

With quite some research, I've found lots of information about him.

He died because of acute kidney problems, while at a conference in Manilla, Philippines and got buried there. Will write more about Heeroom later!

Dad was taking his nap, but he jumped up to show us the photos from Heeroom's solemn requiem Mass and burial. 

Dad greatly admired Heeroom, he was very proud of him and talked fondly about him.

Sad, that my siblings did not give Dad his appropriate requiem Mass, just as Dad organized for Mom, where his fellow choir members could have sung... 

Dad, who got his Royal Certificates for being a Choir Member for exactly 81 years to the date of his death. He got a Certificate for 70 and 80 years; unique in The Netherlands!

Half a Century later...

Ready for Church... Mother and 2nd born daughter (me).

Wearing my Escada suit that I found at the Chattanooga, Tennessee Escada Outlet.

St. Lambertus, the Catholic Church in Horst, The Netherlands

Above in this photo you view some 14th and 15th Century art work, rescued from the bombed Church.

Taken on Mom & Dad's 50th Wedding Anniversary Mass.

As per Mom & Dad's request—I was the lay reader for their solemn 50th Anniversary Mass.

The Horster Mannenkoor sang, visible to the right.

That was the section where in my schooldays, the children were seated!

Walking back to the pew, to join Pieter and my siblings.

Dad's First Cousin made a video during Mass, brother Martin Van den Munckhof made the photos.

Sadly, their 55th, 60th and 65th Wedding Anniversary has not been celebrated with a Mass.

My sister Diny talked Mom & Dad out of that... only to rectify her own actions we think.

~

Husband Pieter did make a video during reception in the restaurant.

We first had coffee with pie, then dinner and afterwards the reception started.

Coffee and pie is being served during reception as well as alcoholic beverages and others.

This was the A.M.C. choir from the neighborhood. Dad's big choir had already given a serenade before these came to sing.Toon Smits of the A.M.C. choir (Afhang – Middelijk) gently announces that they want to sing 'Wetscherni Swon', 'Evening Bells' as a closing for them at the reception of Mom & Dad's 50th wedding anniversary.Dad says, I happen to have that song in 'my pocket'... and he takes a folded piece of paper out of his pocket and sings his 'favorite solo'...Evening bells (dong, dong)Evening bells (dong, dong)How many thoughts (dong, dong)They arouse! (dong, dong)O youthful days (dong, dong)Where I was born and bred (dong, dong)Where I first loved (dong, dong)Where Father's house stands (dong, dong)And now how I, (dong, dong)On forever parting (dong, dong)Have heard the bells (dong, dong)For my last time (dong, dong).~Those Russians knew something about melancholic sounding songs... This is a very old one from 1828.Dad sang several Slavic songs, they all were his favorites!
Related posts:My Angel Sister who Died TWICE Classic Escada Skirt Suit with Silk Gucci Scarf{There You Go Again... Update}
AMC op 50 jarig huwelijk Papa & Moeke Van den Munckhof—video by Pieter J.C. Vedder | longer video

The Magic Washing Machine

What was the greatest invention of the industrial revolution? Hans Rosling makes the case for the washing machine. With newly designed graphics from Gapminder, Rosling shows us the magic that pops up when economic growth and electricity turn a boring wash day into an intellectual day of reading.

Sadly, Hans Rosling passed away on February 7, 2017...

This video reminded me of how Mom had to do laundry, by heating the water, in a large copper kettle and with a thick wooden stick, pushing the whites into the hot and soapy substance. They got then rinsed inside the long tub, with cold water and wringing out by hand.Sheets hanging over her shoulder and making her wet... cold/wet that is!As I have helped her as a young girl; I've felt it myself.~What a long way we've come!

Solid Oak Shutters REDONE: Now Professionally Mortise Hinged by Husband Pieter

While living and  working in Indonesia, we had our new home built in Dublin, Georgia after moving all our belongings back from Italy and kept in storage.

In November of 1990 we moved in but had to leave again for Indonesia, for a couple more years.

When not there during construction, all sorts of things can go wrong...

So, finally in January of 1995, husband Pieter got to hang anew our solid oak indoor shutters. 

Our contractor had put the mortise hinges in face-mounted and by doing so, they did of course no longer shut...

So they went on by mutilating them even further by sawing the excess on the center (closing) panel off!

The face-mounted hinges resulted in ugly gaps between all panels, causing furniture, rugs, to fade from sunshine and also losing full privacy.

Too bad that such fine craftsmanship by Historic Windows in Virginia got ruined by non-professionals!

When viewing the video on your PC you see at clickable minute 0:30 in text below video, how Pieter painstakingly added narrow strips of wood to the window casing for making the window smaller to fill up the space.

Gaining just a little and then putting the wooden corner strip back on at minute 0:50 and start hanging the shutters anew.

At minute 0:58 Pieter places mortised hinges on correctly instead of face-mounted. Painstakingly chiseling out the space for hinges, precision job... 24 mortise hinges for each window!

At 1:50 hinge is now mortised into the edge of the shutter, thus preventing shutters from 'gaping'.

At 1:59 Pieter is showing how much they actually had CUT off... because they had placed the hinges face-mounted.

At 2:16 showing how Pieter added about 1.5 cm to casing and on other side 0.75 cm to compensate for what they had cut off, then caulking, sanding and painting.

At 3:50 painting in living room with the Dutch World Radio on... flooding in The Netherlands.

Pieter speaks in Dutch as this was our 'spoken' letter for my Parents, back in The Netherlands...

But you still get a very clear idea!

Happy for having those home videos archived!

We selected the CHARLESTON as that is exactly what we got for all doors, except in living room; dining room; kitchen and veranda where we have French doors with 15 glass panels.

Both of us like indoor shutters far better than curtains.

Curtains can become very dusty, and may interfere with certain health issues.

Easy cleaning instead of curtains.

Eco friendly as they insulate very well; both for cooling in summer and heating in winter.

Their historic look is also a big plus.

Too bad that HISTORIC WINDOWS where we got ours for our previous home, after getting rid of all curtains and again for our present home that we moved into in November of 1990, no longer produces...

~

Similar solid wood interior shutters you can find at Colonial Shutters in Mattapoisett, MA 

This also shows you, when professionally hung with mortised hinges, they CLOSE!

This is the Beacon Hill - full length Williamsburg style click link

These shutters are far more insulating then the cheaper plantation version with only slats that are also rather dusty and not maintenance friendly...

Does any of you have indoor shutters?

 

Related link:

{Our 'GREEN' Bedroom} | how husband Pieter installed some clever indoor shutters for French Door

Husband Pieter wrote about me: POET–PITBULL–PRODUCTIVE

 

On July 12, 2000 the day before we had to travel all the way to Jakarta, Indonesia for our 3 weeks of consulting work, we were out of of power due to an enormous thunder storm + rain!

So doing my laundry got halted and while waiting on my machines and having something to do, I started typing the 17 letters to all our relatives and friends...

Got done by 2:30 AM and after reading them all, Pieter would put them back inside their envelope and put the stamp etc. on.

Good feeling always!

Yes, I sure am a PITBULL and will not easy let go of things till DONE!

Making the best out of such a power outage and getting it ALL done.

We only had come back home from two weddings in Europe, shortly before this work trip so things got kind of back–to–back but my Pieter and I always have been able to handle it.

Being 2 consecutive nights on the plane, we would collapse in our chairs!!!

Next day at the Atlanta Airport waiting for boarding on our 22nd trip to work in Indonesia...

Atlanta to Amsterdam and from there on another flight to Singapore and on to Jakarta, Indonesia.

Feeling good for having accomplished a lot before taking off!

So, this is how a PITBULL looks...

In Amsterdam, at Schiphol airport and of course using the coin booth for calling Mom & Dad

~

On August 6, we were home again.

That's how we accumulated our 1,500,000 miles in the air and more!

Trip # 50 to Amsterdam from Atlanta we made on June 23, for attending the wedding of Pieter's brother's adopted daughter... and also of our German 'son' on July 1st and back home on July 6.

So only 6 days in-between... That forced one for being VERY PRODUCTIVE!

By the way, on September 9, 1986 I still was a member of the POETRY CLUB...

The above 'whale' was my design for writer Uncle Bo Whaley

My Handwork on PERMANENT Display at Teaching Museum South in Fulton County near Atlanta, Georgia

 

Proudly showing my hand knitted silk lace shawl in a peacock pattern... see link below post.

Wool skirt is one of my own sewing creations to match my Chanel bag in taupe.

Shirt is an Outlet find from Escada...

This was the main piece of my handwork that got to be on a PERMANENT display at Teaching Museum South in Fulton County near Atlanta, Georgia. This is part of the Fulton County Schools in Hapeville, a two hour one-way drive for us.

On December 31, 1993 a person from the Georgia State University with a photographer came to our home for the interview and permission to use some of my hand made lace for the above purpose.

We did serve both a warm lunch meal as it is one-way 2 hours driving distance.

You find photo taken by photographer in link below: Today I Turned 17! in regard to my proud United States Citizenship

 It all started with and add in the Holland Times, the publication for all Dutch related people in and around Atlanta.

The above video shows the hand made knitted silk lace shawl being framed WRONG SIDE FACING OUT!

For such a meticulous knitted peacock lace pattern it makes a HUGE difference RIGHT SIDE versus WRONG SIDE...

Deborah A. Duchon, Research Associate for Applied Research in Anthropology at Georgia State University

So I contacted her... that's how the interview came to be and she left with several of my items that I let her take with her for a very small reimbursement as I felt kind of honored to be included in such a PERMANENT Display.

Yes, on Friday, May 27, 1994, I got up at 5:00 AM for being there for the hands-on workshop and demonstration of my crafts

Me at the Teaching Museum with part of my display

CROCHET (THE NETHERLANDS)

The artist studied horticulture with emphasis on mushrooms. 

Her husband's job brought them to Georgia – he is also a

mushroom expert. They both now work as international 

mushroom consultants. The artist learned crochet as a child

 and now uses it to occupy time on long business trips:

'There's not much to do at night in the Indonesian 

countryside,' she says. 'Luckily, I can always crochet.'

~

Sadly, two of my most sentimental hand crocheted lace handkerchiefs got stolen that morning... 

One was my bridal handkerchief. Such sentimental value can never be replaced... 

I could buy again the fine Swiss batiste and the French DMC tatting yarn, adding about 7 hours of patience to make another one.

See link below where I recreated a replica of it.

This got published in the Atlanta Journal Constitution on June 9, 1994...

Deborah did send me this poor copy at the end of the year.

The Atlanta Journal Constitution wrote a huge error:

Youngsters (yep, 150 rude kids that screamed the one insult after another... calling me a racist and on and on) also got to see embroidery of all kind crafted by Vedder, (NOT TRUE it was crocheted lace work and knitted lace!) who lives in 

Dublin, GA, and works as a mushroom 

consultant. She says she has been creating

 things with her hands since she was a child. 

Vedder said she learned to crochet 

as a child because school officials in Holland 

saw it as a way for children to build motor skills.

~ 

On July 16, 1994 upon return from our work in Indonesia, I had to contact Ms. Duchon again as from the other lady at the Teaching Museum South there was no reply in regard to my missing crocheted lace handkerchiefs. 

Also I remarked; Being a teacher myself, I have also to comment on the far too big groups you had that day (twice 75 kids for one hour!). No way that one can handle them. Not the least that they get proper attention to actually learn something!

All I ever got was the above poor copy, neither photos as promised earlier... Never heard about the missing pieces.

Due to the glare of those glass cases in the above video, Pieter wanted to return somewhat later for making professional photos with the right equipment. 

The entire display had vanished – their version of PERMANENT?

Indeed both of us did LEARN A LOT!

Related links:

{My Hand Knitted Silk Lace Shawl in Peacock Pattern} | previous post by me

{Today I turned 17!} | post showing also photo from interview for Teaching Museum

{My Lace Crocheted Handkerchief #1} | showing a replica of my original stolen bridal handkerchief + 5 more crocheted lace handkerchiefs

With Dad to Santa Cruz, Redwood State Parks, Pebble Beach, Monterey Sea Aquarium + Dinner at Shadowbrook Restaurant

On Monday, March 1 in 1993,  husband Pieter was in Chicago giving a Seminar for Campbell Soup and I would go for one day to their Pescadero Mushroom Farm in Santa Cruz.

Thus, I checked out with Dad, from our San Francisco hotel and started driving South via Highway 101 onto Highway 1 along the coast via the Scenic Half Moon Bay drive.

This is Highway 1, along the coast... Near Half Moon Bay you view the eroded cliff sides.

Pieter and I have also been there at times that the road was covered with eroded rocks and sand and traffic blocked.

As I had to work next day for the Campbell Soup plant in Pescadero, we first went there.

Then I did take Dad back up to the north for driving the scenic Skyline Boulevard, Route 35 to show Dad the natural wonders of this region.

There was no GPS back then, all I had was some magazine info with the most scenic routes...

BUT after a stop and guidance from a guy on a tractor, we ended up in the Big Basin Redwood State Park.

We managed to see the burned out Chimney Tree but could not find the Auto Tree, one of the oldest and where a car can drive through. 

Dad was in awe, and he had me run back to the car, for fetching the camera and capturing at least some images with him!

Dad was eager for consulting his book at home, back in The Netherlands, and checking out the pictures and information...

Now it was on to our final destination for the day, the Holiday Inn at Santa Cruz.

We both did walk briskly towards the Fisherman's Wharf, before dark – showing Dad the seals and where they would jump onto the wooden beams at the board walk for sleeping...

See my previous post about my First Trip to California, Santa Cruz – below this one.

~

Next day I started around 7:00 with my consulting job at the Campbell Soup's Pescadero mushroom farm and worked all day.

In return, the manager had one of his staff members, Carmen, tour with us the entire following day for sight seeing the coming day.

Carmen, started out by taking us to another Redwood area, the Pescadero Memorial Park.

Memorial Park (2nd Hike) click link for seeing this exact tree with info as Carmen missed part of it...

It obviously is a kind of cut off tree on the side that is not visible from the top in our photo.

Dad tried to capture me against another redwood or Sequoia sempervirens...

Next, Carmen took my Dad and me to Pebble Beach click for more info.

Dad and Carmen at Pebble Beach...

Sand–polished Gems, you can read more from the above mentioned link.

Giving you a view from Pebble Beach, over the Pacific Ocean

More of the Pacific Ocean with a rather strong surf and lots of shore birds

A better view from Pebble Beach and its many shore birds

Center photo you can see the silhouette of Pescadero's famous Pigeon Point Lighthouse in Pescadero between Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz along the rugged San Mateo coast line...

It is the tallest lighthouse on the West Coast!

See better photo in my previous post below: My First Trip to California, Santa Cruz

Dad in Monterey, after our very scenic drive down Highway 1; belonging to the most scenic of the world.

Carmen and me on the rocks in Monterey at the Wharf

Dad in Monterey at the Wharf

It sure was a perfect day, and we thoroughly enjoyed visiting the Monterey Sea Aquarium where we found the Sea Otters the most funny! One was allowed to touch the smaller sea creatures; so educative and fun and Dad was very happy.

Near the Sea Aquarium with a happy Dad!

We got treated royally that March 3, with a dinner at the famous Shadowbrook Restaurant in Capitola, where Dad got to ride the Cable Car; one of the most unique restaurants in the West.

Pieter dined here with the Campbell staff on January 27...

Next day, I drove back in our Dollar rental car, my blue Plymouth, to return it at the San Francisco Airport.

Crazy 'triple' photo but you clearly can see the yellow Tidy tips, California's spring wildflower!

Called the Ramada Inn with the courtesy phone, and with their shuttle we arrived for checking in for one night stay at the San Francisco Airport.

On Friday, March 5, we checked out from our hotel at 5:15 and with shuttle to the airport for our early flight from 6:40 to Minneapolis/St.Paul–the first leg of our journey back to the East, to Atlanta, Georgia.

We arrived home by 18:30 due to the 3 hours time difference!

Did sleep in on Saturday, March 6, for nursing my Bronchitis and Sciatica...

Pieter got home at 14:30 from his Campbell Soup Seminar in Chicago and he took Dad for singing practice by 16:00 together with the organist at the First Baptist Church. 

Dad's solos were the Negro Spirituals: Thank You Lord and Steal Away, which he also repeated on the 14th of March at yet another Church in town.

Both the organist and my Dad sounded perfect, and it got rounded off with a standing reception and refreshments in their social hall.

Dad flew back home on March 20, together with his Presidential gift from Uncle Bo Whaley; a specially handmade Irish shillelagh cane.

Skillfully crafted by our local Easter Seal workers. The day before, the Georgia Governor got presented with one by our local officials during the annual St. Patrick's Joint Civic Luncheon, organized by Pieter's Rotary Club.

Even President Carter received one in August of 1980...

~

So much for one week in California and three weeks in Georgia, all the way from The Netherlands...

Related links:

Dad with me in San Francisco and Golden Gate Bridge Cruise | previous post

My First Trip to California, Santa Cruz | previous post by me with Shadowbrook Restaurant where Dad now dined with me...

Dad with me in San Francisco and Golden Gate Bridge Cruise

On February 20 of 1993, we went to the Atlanta Airport to pick up Dad... He had flown solo, without my Mom, from Amsterdam/The Netherlands.

On Sunday, right after Mass, when serving a cup of coffee in our veranda, I sat on Dad's lap...

Handing him a belated Birthday Gift (for January 4th) + Father's Day gift in the form of a ticket to fly with me on February 27, via Detroit to San Francisco, as I had to do some training for Campbell Soup at the Pescadero farm in Santa Cruz. 

Dad cried, and that's something; considering that he never has been a person, able to show his emotions!

Only at our final visit he showed TRUE JOY when we walked into the door!

That did both of us so good and with his passing shortly afterward, we had peace of mind.

There are 3 hours in time difference and with our stop-over in Detroit, we had to get up at 5:00 AM for driving to the Atlanta Airport, park the car and then check in for our 9:50 flight to Detroit.

Arriving finally in San Francisco around 14:00.

Here I stopped with my Dollar rental car from the San Francisco Airport, driving to our Holiday Inn, North Point.

Dad was so in awe with this masterpiece of the Golden Gate Bridge!

The weather was pleasant and Dad even needed his sunglasses...

One has to be in awe by the view of those HUMONGOUS cables!

It as so worth it for driving the 101 north and then turning back, so Dad could SEE all this...

Next day, on February 28, I got us a ticket for the GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE SAN FRANCISCO BAY CRUISE. 

For Dad, I got the German language narration, that made him very happy!

Now we're going under the majestic Golden Gate Bridge by boat...

Looking at the Golden Gate Bridge from below...

Dad loved listening to all the German spoken information!

What a sight that bridge as we leave it behind...

California is a rugged State and has lots of interesting views.

Alcatraz Island is coming in sight... with the famous Alcatraz prison.

Nearing Alcatraz Island

That Alcatraz prison is quite a dreary sight...

The Alcatraz Island is 22 acres or 9 hectare and is 1.5 mile or 2.01 km offshore.

Dad at the San Francisco Wharf, he was so grateful as he hugged my shoulders as he cried again...

Letting me know that this gift was well received!

Once more, Dad had gotten emotional when I told him that this would be as close as he could possibly get to his younger brother in Broken Hill, NSW-Australia... a brother who's Birthday it was that day!

Dad never dared to go visit him, flying from The Netherlands.

Sure, if I had gone with him; he would have!

We walked to Saints Peter and Paul Church and attended 'half' a Mass, in Italian, since we had no time schedule...

Post card photograph above by Willow Schneider and Carl Bondinell

Then we walked through the city of San Francisco to Union Square and Powell Street and back by Cable Car to the Fisherman's Wharf.

That was a special experience for my Dad, to ride the real San Francisco Cable Car...

View from our Holiday Inn over the Fisherman's Wharf with the Marriott hotel across from us...

Stay tuned for next section.

Related link:

Pieter J.C. Vedder was the BEST TEACHER in Bridging the Gap between Research and Grower | Pieter's photo from San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge...

From Santa Cruz to San Francisco for the Weekend | previous post by me with cable car picture and about our trip to Alcatraz Island