Miele Dishwasher and Oven Installed with Some Help

 It was now December 18 of 1998 and the Miele dishwasher and oven would be installed.

Pieter did all the prep work for the connections and also closed an enormous hole in the wall that we uncovered behind the previous oven.

One often wonders how those workers handle things—like the Flinstones whacking a hole in the wall?

And thinking we will never find out?!

They are IN by 5:19 PM.

Our dear friend Paul Kellam had two of his guys help Pieter with getting the dishwasher and oven built in.

Yes, Miele is the Cadillac of appliances—pricy but if you talk about quality, longevity and eco friendly, energy saving—Immer Besser (forever better).

There are many good reasons for choosing Miele. Here are just six of them. ←click link

Do you have any Miele appliance?

Related links:

{Our Kitchen Improvements} | previous post by me

{More of Our Kitchen} | previous post by me

Whirlpool Dishwasher versus Miele

 Well, when Pieter took out the Whirlpool dishwasher I was quite shocked that it had NO sides but only insulation material—that was IT!

That's all... NO WONDER they are so noisy!

That's the Miele with a beautiful outside...

Perfection—built in Germany.

One learns so much from comparing the two brands of appliance!

Sure there also is a price difference but you get a nice Eco Friendly piece of appliance and great for saving energy!

Related link:

{Our Kitchen Improvements} | previous post by me

My Escada Sport Shorts Then and Now

 In my previous post Montréal Old Port and City Hall ←click link—I did wear my Escada Sport shorts.

Writer and blogger friend I admire: Paula Alexandra Santos ←click link—commented on my outfit, seen in the short video...

Everything the same—except I forgot to get my Burberry folding umbrella 😉.

Keeping that in the pouch of the car seat...

My Escada Sport shorts with matching leather belt.

My Dutch Loints sandals, from The Netherlands and over 40 years old.

Back side where you can see also the linen slouch socks—sustainable and eco friendly pieces.

Escada Sport belt.

Escada Sport shorts in size 34 or US size 4.

Of course they are more faded than in the above video from 1998...😏.

Always loved wearing this soft yellow shirt from Time Square Sportswear–Denver, Colorado, USA.

100% cotton!

Very subtle logo embroidered on the front: ATLANTA

My all time favorite little handbag GABRIELLE.

That hails from the mid 70s from a store in Panningen where I lived when first married...

Related links:

Mount Royal Park and Saint Joseph's Oratory in Montréal, Canada | previous post by me where I also wear the entire outfit...

COME Cross the Tengger Sand Sea to Volcano Mount Bromo, Indonesia | previous post by me wearing the Loints sandals

True Indigo Indigofera Tinctoria in Pieter's Favorite Color  | previous post by me wearing my Loints sandals

Our Variegated Blue Flax Lily + Video from Flaxseed to Linen from Horst my Birthplace

 Rather late I discovered that our Variegated Blue Flax Lily was blooming again.

We have this since 2014. 

On September 8, I captured these...

Such tiny lovely flowers!

That's the entire Variegated Blue Flax Lily on our patio, as a pot plant.

On September 19, they were still there... now they're gone.

You see the blue sky we have!

Having hailed from Horst, a region in the Province of Limburg, in the South of The Netherlands, there is quite a history about Flax and the Linen weavers.Want to share this very interesting video with you.From flaxseed to linen (Museum de Kantfabriek Horst) — the old Lace factory!Translations:from flaxseed to linenHorst (my birth place) around 1920First, the land is made suitable for the cultivation of flax.Sowing takes place at the beginning of April.After a few days, the first flax seeds germinate.The weeds are removed.At the beginning of June, the flax is in bloom.Harvesting can begin in mid-August.With the rekel, the flax bulbs are removed.The flax is placed underwater to let the soft parts rot away; called retting.Dad used to have a piece of land at the Rotven. One of those former fens...The flax bulbs are threshed from which linseed oil is extracted.Part of the seed is used again for the next harvest.After drying, the stems are roasted to remove the hard inner core.By breaking, the hard inner core is broken; scutching.After the harvest it's time for a party.With the crank, the remaining wood residues are removed; hackling.By hackling, only the best fibers remain.In winter, the fibres are spun into flax yarn.Finally, the yarns are washed to remove the lye.After rinsing, the yarns are ready to weave into linen cloth.By bleaching the linen in the sun, it gets a bright white color.The linen is now ready for use.In the meantime, it's spring again. High time to make the land suitable for a new harvest.This program is composed on the basis of a film (1976) that was commissioned by the Antiquity–Room Horst
Nowadays linen is from Belgium, Ireland, Italy, Poland and of course in China...
But seeing how labor intensive it is—you might appreciate more your linen pieces!At fashion school we learned how this was being created but the above video is far better for understanding...
Did any of you know this process?
Related link:{Variegated Blue Flax Lily} | previous post by me with good closeup photo of flower{Horst my Birth Place, Used to be an Old Linen Weavers Town} | previous post by me

Pieter's Outfit from Khazana at Taj Palace New Delhi Hotel

 On February 29 of 1991 we were at the Taj Palace New Delhi hotel after our two–week consulting work for Pond's India. This before flying to Indonesia where we worked and lived at the time.

With a guide from Pond's we did go to the State Emporia where we found a whale for Uncle Bo Whaley, and for us a sandalwood carving with balls inside. 

Also a bird painting on rice paper. 

Back at our hotel we found for Pieter a very nice fitting greenish cotton pair of trousers and a striped shirt.

This was on our patio in Wonosobo, Indonesia where Pieter put on the entire set.

Perfect fit!

Admiring our orchids that just hang on wood wool planks against the wall.

Happy times during our life in Indonesia!

The climate was so perfect for our hair...

We also found a perfect pure silk black tie at the Taj Palace New Delhi Khazana Shop.

India has so much!

It is real black, the shine of the silk made it look a bit different... 😉

Pieter wearing his Khazana trousers on his 69th Birthday in our front porch.

Behind him: Our HUGE Clematis lanuginosa 'Candida' in 2022←click it

The same guy, same trousers only 31 years later... 

And yes, those comfy eco friendly Loints sandals are still alive as well!

Notice the Moonflower vine, to the left of Pieter's knee?

Home grown by Pieter from seeds and it is opening its very first flower!

They too are HUGE and bloom at night mainly; hence its name Moonflower — Ipomoea alba.

Photos taken around 9:00 so it was closing.

Pieter on the back step of our gazebo. The white gingerbread from Vintage Woodworks looks so nice after it got painted again.

From inside of gazebo facing the pond area.

Related link:

COME Cross the Tengger Sand Sea to Volcano Mount Bromo, Indonesia | previous post by me both wearing our Loints sandals

True Indigo Indigofera Tinctoria in Pieter's Favorite Color | previous post by me with Loints sandals

Blissful Relationship in the Tropics of Indonesia | previous post by me with Loints sandals

P.J.C. Vedder on Mushroom Cultivation during Technology Transfer Seminar part 2 | previous post where Pieter is wearing his Khazana trousers...

Pieter Cleaned our Front Door Lights and HURT his Eye

 Having your own home requires ongoing maintenance and or repair...

One of the LED lights next to our front door did no longer work.

So Pieter started to take them off the wall, to replace their dusk to dawn light control.

This is AFTER Pieter did the job, successfully!

In 2013, the spot behind them has not even been painted...

They needed some deep cleaning!

The contractor that build our home, did not leave much of the wire outside of the wall, for working with.

That made things complicated, for disconnecting and re-connecting.

The hand carved wooden name plaque got made in Indonesia and was a gift for Pieter's help in the mushroom cultivation there.

Cast aluminum in white, that we brought back from Italy.

They both needed a new dusk to dawn light control.

Pieter also did sand the cast aluminum and paint the lights, before hanging them back onto the wall.

In doing these various chores, somehow, he must have gotten something inside his left eye...

There are also glass panels...

While we were living and working in Indonesia, the house got build.

The usage of such LONG screws proves that the professionalism at times was not the best!

On November 3, I had to be with Pieter at the Vision Eye Group Ophthalmology Clinic in Macon for his 8:00 AM appointment...

One hour drive...

We tried on Friday, to get an emergency appointment in at the local Dublin Eye Associates.

But he could only be seen by mid February!

Review for Dr. Felicia Carolyn Fountain, MD in Dublin

Review for Dr. Jeffery C. Hinson, MD

So I was so glad that they fit us in for seeing the ophthalmologist in Macon, the one that did my eye surgery end of 2020 and early this year.

Grateful, as it turned out Pieter had a swollen eye and it got scratched, very painful all together!

With some special drops for two weeks, which we picked up at the pharmacy on the way home, he got fast pain relief and also better vision.

That was quite a scare!

On Wednesday, December 1, we both went back, again early appointment at 8:00 AM and all looked well again.

Mexico's Mariachi music, string, song and trumpet and I got serenaded...

 We both have been so fortunate for having met the pure Mexican culture in many ways.

Here I'm standing next to a group of Mariachis that came to play and sing at a stylish Mass, celebrating the 49th anniversary of El Encinal, Monteblanco's oldest mushroom farm.

Mariachis are without hats; out of respect!

To the left is the manager from El Encinal and Don Victor who started Monteblanco 49 years ago is seated next to me and on the right of me is his son.

The kind Mariachi lends Pieter his violin...

The priest is getting ready for saying Mass

It was a very special Mass and afterward lunch for all employees.

During Mass, which got celebrated with lots of fresh flowers!

Mariachis still playing while employees are seated at table now.

Second from left is me standing near the door...

No paper napkins and such, but instead an Eco friendly table setting!

That was a meaningful event and most of the employees are grateful for their job!

UNESCO has added Mexico's Mariachi music to its list of 'intangible cultural heritage of humanity'.

Glad they did!

Plaza Garibaldi in Mexico City famous for its serenading Mariachis click for more info

On our fourth trip for consulting in Mexico, we got another very special royal treatment...

On Saturday, December 2 of 1995, we got picked up at the Camino Real Hotel in Mexico City, by Agustín and Carmen. They took us to the Historic District of Mexico City (UNESCO World Heritage Site) where we had lunch on a terrace with a margarita, under a parasol in the sun. It is such a beautiful city with many parks, trees and green planting; paradise. 

After lunch we did walk around for some shopping together, for us CD's from the three tenors and organ music from Bach which we could not find at Schiphol/Amsterdam airport.

After a rest period back in our hotel, Agustín and Carmen picked us up again at 21:00 to go to Plaza Girabaldi where, according to the old Spanish tradition, the Mariachis still serenade. The idea is that you will listen in the square and pick out a group for taking to your home for serenading your wife/girlfriend/lover... 

What a display! 

It's like being in a live operette with such beautiful costumes!!!

Beautiful trousers with those gold decorations along the side of their legs. The length is also perfect; nice and long down to their booties. Very slim cut and higher waist, as in the movies used to be. Also with hats on, and they use violins, bass guitars, trumpet and a unique instrument the Vihuela (a 15th-century fretted plucked Spanish string instrument).

Agustín bought a group, for three songs; dedicated to Carmen and me.

That was very special!

Of course, the audience could also enjoy it. 

WISH we'd had our iPhones back then...!

Related link:

Our 1st Time Consulting in Mexico with stay at Camino Real Hotel Mexico City | previous post about hotel where we stayed

Relaxing Weekend at Valle de Bravo, Mexico

 Our first week at work ended with a royal treatment at the owner's lake house in Valle de Bravo

Pieter, happily standing outside with the spectacular view of the lake and mountains!

During our 2nd stay there on January 15 of 1995, Pieter did sail on the lake with Agustín; his first time ever.

Breakfast outside, on the patio... Eco friendly without any paper napkins, plates or cups!

It can't be more romantic than that!

Agustín and Carmen always were such gracious hosts. They have over those twelve years of working for the company, and even far beyond that, become great friends!

View from the patio over the lake...

Such a lovely place to come to with their family and friends...

We sure didn't mind being here Friday late afternoon through Sunday!

View from the pool area.

View to the other side, as seen from the pool area.

Blissful Relationship in the Tropics of Indonesia

Happy in the botanical garden of Yogyakarta and wearing the jeans that Pieter came home with from China.

My Mom was most amazed at how well Pieter knew my size... He told her that he had put his two hands around the waist of a Chinese sales person to check and said; that's the size!

He always could just touch his fingers by doing this around my waist...

Pieter very happy looking while standing under a ficus tree...

We both LOVED Indonesia and its friendly people, delicious food and its flora and fauna.

Probably our BEST years...!

Look at the trunk of this tree!

A Gecko that caught an insect...

Turning around the stem of the tree... trying to hide!

A sweet Mother and Child Garden Statue!

Haha, you see behind me some houseplant varieties that we ALL know; just a bit larger!

As long as it does not rain; you think you're in PARADISE!

Well, all that rain makes the plants and trees look the way they do...

Typical stone figures that are being made in the Yogyakarta, Java area.

That's what we loved to do upon arrival, rise early (is quite normal for the tropics!), breakfast and lingering at the pool and afterwards, walking in the botanical gardens...

Pieter wearing his comfy eco friendly Loints of Holland sandals.

Thanks for sharing the joy!

Bye for now...

Related links:

COME Cross the Tengger Sand Sea to Volcano Mount Bromo, Indonesia | previous post showing the eco friendly Loints sandals (Pieter's above)

True Indigo Indigofera Tinctoria in Pieter's Favorite Color | previous post by me with eco friendly Loints sandals