Birthday in Davie, South Florida

 So here we are, our 3 nights at the Hyatt Place Fort Lauderdale/Plantation in South Florida.

The weather was perfect all our days in Florida!

We once stayed here before, during the weekend of April 16-18 in 2011.

Starting out with this picture from the front entrance of the Hyatt Place Fort Lauderdale/Plantation in South Florida.

Do you see the 'skinny' palm tree trunk between the 2nd and 3rd palm tree?

That was right in front of our room on the 6th floor...

There was a hole in the broken off palm tree... we suspected a Woodpecker had taken up residence.

But look who was the palm tree resident: A cute squirrel.

He/she later hopped onto the green palm leaves of the other trees.

Quite daring at such a height!

So that's why I captured that top photo afterwards to see from where it looked out.

This photo shows said stump palm tree more clearly.

Approaching the Colonnade Outlets at Sawgrass Mills Circle in Sunrise, Florida... 

Just wanted it to show on my Relive video.

It was our goodbye, as they appeared to be nearly abandoned... some of the upscale stores had closed down, as was my favorite place of Escada.

Bye bye Last Call by Neiman Marcus...

It was very easy for finding a parking space the day before.

Our entire economy is looking rather bleak; let's hope, we will live to see better years to come!

My Birthday supper at Whole Foods Market in Davie, FL

Fish (small piece as I'm only allowed very little protein intake for my CKD stage 4), some rice and veggies.

Pieter's selection of some Indian curry, fish and chicken...

Regardless of being also diabetes type 2, I did have my Birthday dessert!

A heavenly chocolate dessert, called Midnight in Miami...

It was SO GOOD!

Yes, I'm a lifelong chocoholic but most times I restrain myself, except our daily piece of dark chocolate with tea.

Wearing my set of pearls with antique silver pieces, artfully done by a dear friend that made jewelry.

Pieter enjoyed his yummy dessert, called Cappuccino...

He is lucky for never having been diabetes type 2 as he sure has a sweet tooth! 😏

Enjoy this short 1:08 min Relive video:

Early Birthday GIFT from Kitties

Just before going to bed after making Tiramisu dessert... 

Juvenile water snake ←click link for 36 second video

With my iPhone I captured the above video and this photo.

Not my hand! The one our kitties brought me appeared to be a juvenile Nerodia sipedon (Northern Water Snake) click for more info

Before coming to bed (not wanting to wake up my Pieter for showing him my 'early' Birthday gift, I put it on the retainer wall next to our driveway. Presuming that it was DEAD.

At breakfast time it was GONE... so they play dead when being handled!

Smart juvenile.

Digging out Part of the Mountain of Dirt left under the House by Contractor

 Yep, after living and working in Indonesia, we still did continue doing consulting work but no longer than 2 or 3 weeks at a time.

So we finally since early May of 1992, could start working on home & garden...

Our contractor left us with a huge mountain of dirt UNDER THE HOUSE!

While we were working/living in Indonesia, he started constructing the house, which Pieter had designed, by making the drawings all himself.

Two levels on the driveway end and one level on the kitchen side.

The contractor did ask if we wanted a wine cellar but we said no, we don't need that.

Not realizing by not wanting that, he also bypassed any concrete flooring...!

Oh dear, when you're not physically present at times; big problems can arise that need to be dealt with later. 

Neither was there Internet for quick communication...

Always harder too, for correcting a problem like that later, as you barely can access the area for a fast and efficient excavation.

But we needed to get rid of the musty heap of 60 tons of dirt!

In August of 1991, I've dug out already a big section, as much as we needed to fill in for washed out dirt that Pieter rode then out in the wheelbarrow... See: The FIGHT of Growing Grass in Subtropical Georgia/USA ←click it.

This time, Pieter himself dug out a lot more, as we planned to build our pantry.

You can best watch this on YouTube, and use the clickable points that I've inserted and written about, below video.You can see the start of the digging and wheeling out, in the beginning, on a nippy cold February day (my Birthday) and next the construction of our pantry in progress.Having a dirty house, at least downstairs, I only kept up with the extra laundry and also captured our Garden Critters in-between filming Pieter's hard labor.Pieter indeed has been a worker bee; all his life and he's done it ALL.At the end of the video, you also see at clickable 38:07 after 20 days of labor, the completion of the construction of our pantry. At clickable 39:16 Pieter lets the viewers peak behind the added door from the pantry underneath the house, where the remainder of the mountain of dirt remained, till he dug it all out in 2004 for constructing our Rose Suite.With those 60 tons that came out, we could nicely grade our garden.At clickable 42:18 showing garden with wooden walkway, our wood trail on the left of our gazebo. You also get to see the ditches, dug for draining the swampy section! They were by then nicely clad with mosses!
Related links:The FIGHT of Growing Grass in Subtropical Georgia/USA | previous post Non Glamorous Wheelbarrow Job for Filling and Raising Swampy Parts | previous post{The Construction of Our Rose Suite - Part I} | previous post by me where Pieter dug out the 60 tons of dirt{The Construction of Our Rose Suite - Part II} | previous post by me

Floriade 1992 on a Cold and Windy Day after Earthquake in Limburg

So, on April 11, 1992 we arrived on KLM Royal Dutch Airlines in Amsterdam, with our 92 kilos of luggage, coming all the way from Jakarta, Indonesia.

No problems checking in with our courtesy cards in regard to Maximum Baggage Weight...

The customs inquired about the boxes and upon showing once again the photos from the robbery and explaining that all that was left we bring home, they let us pass.

Putting things in the locker and then traveling once more by rail to the South where my Parents lived.

This is husband Pieter posing in front of the tulips at my Parents' place.
Keep in mind that all our clothes got robbed; shoes and everything. Except what we had on our back and inside our luggage, coming from work in India...
We gave away both our hightop shoes to the people working in the hot compost, barefooted. You find link below post from previous adventures.

On April 13, during our 2nd night at my Parents' in my former bedroom, we woke up at 3:22 AM by an earthquake! The rattling and shaking lasted for 20 seconds.

Pieter said very calmly: 'Now THAT is an earthquake!'... Wow.

~

Yes, in my Province of Limburg... With 5.5 on the scale of Richter!

The above article appeared in the then bi-lingual Dutch/American newspaper the Windmill, a bi-weekly publication.

On April 15, I had my hair cut, the LONG braid got snatched off with the hairdresser's scissors. See post below about it where I show it being framed.

Happy at home and with short hair!

The weather is still inclement and rather cold.

We enjoy a nice Easter weekend and on April 20, on 2nd Easter Day we went to the Easter Concert of Dad's choir with a youth choir; very well. 

On Monday we went to the city for buying a Sharp microwave for Mom & Dad as a gift.

We went to brother Piet's birthday on the 23rd.

On Saturday, April 25, we went with the early train of 6:30 AM to Zoetermeer for the Floriade. The biggest international Garden Exhibit that the Dutch hold every 10 years.

But oh, it was such inclement weather and cold and miserable...

We did not have the clothes for it, aside from our newly purchased leather jackets from the Leather Garment Factory in India.

Above, I'm admiring Begonias.

Cape violets...

I'm happy for being indoors in an orchid greenhouse and out of the chilling wind!

Wearing my newly bought sandals from Malioboro, Yogyakarta/Indonesia...

Remember ALL shoes got stolen. Those leggings were certainly not warming me much!

We both decided then and there to stock up on some warmer clothes, shoes and, all for keeping in The Netherlands...

Pieter was not as cold, even though wearing a short sleeved shirt was also not sufficient...

So typically Dutch with red tulips and lots of fragrant hyacinths.

Being indoors was a lot better, I see that here I swapped my sandals for shoes!

But we certainly enjoyed being there for the Floriade.

~

On April 26, brother Harry treated both of us and Mom & Dad on a dinner to celebrate his belated 12.5 year wedding anniversary. 

Brother Harry on the left, with his wife and their three little ones...

It was very special, together.

We also celebrated Pieter's Birthday with family on the 29th.

That year, we'd come to The Netherlands early February, en route to our work to Indonesia, for celebrating my Birthday with my Parents and family and next day brother Harry's and also Mom's Birthday five days later.

So now fate had it, that due to our early leaving from Indonesia, also Pieter's Birthday got celebrated in our birth country.

Very special time this visit, for being with family and friends!

On May 1, on Friday, we go by train to the airport.

We had dropped off all the excessive luggage the day before, by car, and placed it in a locker.

There we go on May 1, with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines finally going home to Atlanta, Georgia/USA

We've come a long way with the remnants from our Life in Indonesia as baggage... Our Exodus!

BUT we sure got a Royal treatment with an upgrade to Business Class on our Courtesy Card with KLM

Menu card reads: Inspired by 'Floriade', the greatest flower show on earth.

Our lunch menu

Cold meal

KLM's Wine Cellar in the Sky

Wine

Champagne and wine...

Liquors and Aperitifs

Discover Holland flowerland... at Floriade 1992! The World Horticultural Exhibition is the most colorful and breathtaking event of the year. A unique show of flowers, plants, trees, vegetables and fruit. Held only once every ten years, Floriade will greet the world from April 11 to October 11 in Zoetermeer near The Hague.

KLM Royal Airlines is main sponsor and official carrier of Floriade 1992.

They sure did carry us back home in a very comfortable way with our upgrade to business class, thanks to the courtesy card we each had. We felt quite pampered in the upper deck.

A very appropriate way for sealing off our Life in Indonesia..

Related links:

From Singapore to Jakarta and SURPRISE upon arrival at our Villa | previous post by me

Adventure in Madras India, now Chennai | previous post by me

{Did I loose my strength?... Like in Samson and Delilah?} | previous post by me showing my long braid

Pieter's Favorite Lambskin Leather Jacket Made New Again... | previous post by me

SO Proud of my NONAGENARIAN

There are many blessings but we both are so grateful for being still alive and even more so, for Pieter being with me, regardless his heart condition.

May God grant him more time to be with me!

Just shortly before his Birthday, my Pieter accomplished something incredible.
We both climbed one of the World's Coolest Observation Decks: Clingmans Dome, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee.

Husband Pieter: View from the Summit.
At 6,643 feet or 2,025 meter, Clingmans Dome is Great Smoky Mountains National Park's highest point.
It is the highest point in Tennessee, and the second highest point east of the Mississippi.
Only North Carolina's Mt. Mitchell (6,684 feet or 2,037 meter) rises higher.
We were so lucky with a clear and sunny day.
Even if it is very windy at the top...
And yes, that is snow that you see in the video!

Relive 'Clingmans Dome Great Smoky Mountains'

       

Clingmans Dome, View from the Dome click to read more.

CLINGMANS DOME High Point of the Great Smoky Mountains click for informative video

Grateful for having this under our belt! ❤️❤️

1982 Sinden Award for Pieter at The Hotel Majestic, Harrogate, England | like for his professional Award he earned another one...

Lovely Birthday Dinner at Ristorante da Maria

Yep, another Birthday has passed by - way too rapidly but I've started another year once more.

It was such a lovely day with sunshine, warm weather and lots of LOVE.

Happy me at Ristorante da Maria, enjoying a romantic birthday dinner...

Wearing my silk Escada blouse with roses and woolen Escada cardigan with roses.

Husband Pieter enjoying his dinner... Lady Chef Maria is the BEST and her 5-course dinners are always special.
Apart from celebrating a blissful relationship!

This is me on my Birthday and yes, the Japanese Magnolias were opening up fast!

My Pieter against the picket fence as the best view was from the neighbor's garden as there's the sun early morning!

That is today, February 12, on Mom's 5th Birthday in Heaven...
Magnolia petals are falling off.

Lovely birthday weather! It was 24ºC or 75ºF and next day 27ºC or 80ºF and that's when we biked together in shorts for the first time.

With all the phone calls, video calls etc. etc. I had my breakfast kind of late... but happy with sunshine and with Pieter's red roses in a vase and some fresh camellias from our garden.

With a few supplements, I've made it so far... Eating healthy and drinking only coffee at breakfast time, with cocoa added. A mug of unsweetened soy milk from Trader Joe's, half an avocado, half a banana and a mandarin. Multi grain bread from Costco with cheese and crunchy almond butter without salt.

A lovely bouquet from a lady from our R.C. Church...

Wish I could pass on the fragrance of those lilies!

Lily buds have fully opened, but one at the top left. Pure PERFUME...

Hope you are also enjoying some sunshine in your life.

Sending you the very best for your area to enjoy!

Bike Rack on Murano Platinum

Both of us enjoy having now our Bike Rack on the Murano Platinum!

Starting out biking from our home, located in Holly Hills, is rather hard.

But it is nearly impossible to find any flat surface in our area...

Here we are, with our 2 Schwinn Bikes on the Bike Rack.

I'm still holding on to my Dachshund Mauzie's wicker basket...

It is handy for putting things in.

The yellow rain coat is peeping out from my basket...

Well, we did get rained on twice, not so much fun!

We just sold our Dutch Batavus Cambridge Sturmey Archer 3 Speed to a gentleman in Houston, TX.
We took it upon us to drop them off at the Atlanta Cycling, on Wednesday August 16.
Bye bye...

Dropping them off and letting go...
Rode my Batavus last on Pieter's Birthday, April 29, and brother Jan rode Pieter's Batavus Cambridge... Sister-in-law rode my Schwinn and our niece rode Pierter's Schwinn - while the birthday guy took his nap! Pieter later joined us at My CoffeeShop where we enjoyed a beverage before biking back home.

Thank you for visiting and commenting!

{Birthday Dinner at the BEST Restaurant for Healthy & Delicious Food}

Having both worked SO hard for weeks on end, this Dinner the day after husband Pieter's actual Birthday was just PERFECT! 

Me completing the 36 photo albums, before 1999, to make them all digital and Pieter doing garden chores and helping me out with domestic chores as well.
Mega Task done of archiving done!

My upper back was kind of nagging me but fortunately it did not graduate!

So here we are; looking a bit tired but being very happy for many reasons.

Just LOVE this suit, it is more than 35 years old but still perfect and since Pieter never ever gained weight - it FITS!
His Thai silk tie with clovers is just perfect with it.

Yes, aging we all turn gray and maybe bold, skin looks different but important is that our mind is still working and feeling young and positive.

Pieter does have problems with his right knee but the topical (expensive, out of pocket) ointment is soothing his pain. 

So here we are at Dublin Farm "Come Home To The Country" in Lady Chef Maria's Ristorante da Maria

Looking tired... but oh so happy with Mission Accomplished!

Wearing my Escada suit that I could not afford when we saw it at the boutique in Budapest, Hungary but I found it on eBay! 

Meanwhile I did catch up on my sleep and my blood pressure was looking just PERFECT.

First course of five... All made from scratch; using the best and the most healthy ingredients (not the cheapest either!) and therefore it is for our health conditions the BEST.

~

Appetizer:

Oven baked Strudel with Spring vegetables and mozzarella, topped with Parmesan, fresh herbs and olive oil, served over a crème fraîche

Menu is in Italian and in English since Lady Chef Maria is Italian

Also Maître d Heinz speaks fluent Italian - they function as a great couple!

It is hard work together for running this special B & B with restaurant...

First dish:

Pasta 'Mini Penne' tossed with 'Mammarosa' sauce, a tomato based sauce with cream and fresh herbs topped w/basil pesto and Parmesan

~

Note: the reason that I label Ristorante da Maria BEST Restaurant for Healthy & Delicious Food is mainly because she knows how to season with special fresh herbs, instead of over-using the salt! 

YES, that IS an all American SIN...

If I would eat at restaurant chains frequently, my kidneys would go down very fast!

So I'm very, very careful with my sodium intake and never had any problems eating here.

Fish-Entrée:

Pan roasted Steelhead Trout Fillet, served with a lemon/Vermouth/cream sauce

~ 

Both, Pieter being a heart patient himself and me with my 48% functioning kidneys, we ALWAYS select fish!

Chef Maria does not drown her Entrées in a sauce but it is drizzled with it and that makes the taste so pleasant - never overpowering, nor taking away from this quality fish.

Always with vegetables too and I personally love that slice of lemon which is real easy to cut away from its peel and enjoy with the fish.

Lady Chef Maria makes incredible DELICIOUS Sorbets!

This is a Pineapple/Lemon Sorbet

Sorry for having scooped out some before remembering to take a picture...

TADA... Maître d 'Heinz' (seen in the back of the picture) did bring the Birthday guy his special Dessert with candle...

Out of courtesy I did never zoom into other diners' table, only the one table to the left and right of us. One family was arriving late; they could not find the place... 

~

Crema di merano

Meraner Cream with vanilla and mixed berries

Pieter also enjoyed his usual espresso with that, to round off yet another heavenly meal!

Yes, I too did splurge on this delicious dessert; I always eat Lady Chef Maria's desserts! And also I drink one glass of wine along with my meal.

That does not cause any problems with my blood sugar levels.

European desserts use FAR less sugar anyway, instead we often use Vanilla, the real thing; not artificial vanilla.

~

May there be many, many more Birthdays to come; God willing.

Pieter's left eye is also causing him problems as the eye surgeon at the time when he had his retina detached, first wanted to complete his Tuesday cycling... thus waiting too long before doing surgery on Pieter. 

Result was that it was not very well after surgery, mixed up sight with half being far- and the other half of that eye being near sighted.

Hence the enlarged eye due to a very thick lens on that side...

Tomorrow morning he has another eye doctor's appointment but there really isn't much that can be done...

Thanks for your loyal visits and wishing you all a happy week and enjoy each day and all the little things!