Pieter ALWAYS Worked Hard and Did Things Himself

 Being an immigrant makes you START OVER LIFE...

Below video on YouTube you find clickable links with information...

Pieter standing proudly in front of his meticulously straight placed fence! 

Seen at clickable 12:26 in above video.

Great job!

Now looking the other way towards our driveway (left) and street.

Corner posts and intermediate posts every 25 m in the concrete.

Total length of 110 m and DAYS OF WORK... Yep, another mega task DONE!

This was also the very day (February 10 of 1984) that Pieter officially had become a member of the Rotary Club of Dublin, Georgia/U.S.A.

Pieter was already a member in The Netherlands since May 11, 1976 of the Rotary Club of Venray, The Netherlands district 1550, where he was President in the year 1978/1979.

That very same year, Pieter was also Honorary President of the Rotary Club Royal Forest of Dean, UK district 1100.

Our late friend Roy J. Chappell wrote this to Pieter on Valentine's Day:

Dear Pieter:

Welcome to my Rotary Club—both you and Mariet.

The worldwide reach of Rotary is manifested in your joining our club.

Whenever I may help you in Rotary—or any part of you and Mariet's life here in Laurens County—please call on my.

What a very kind gesture and he's been a tremendous friend over many years and he did tour Mom & Dad and us around through Laurens and surrounding Counties to show us the rural agricultural part of it.

Forever fond memories!

Such a NEAT fence and here you see the wood that had to get split for burning it in our wood burner in the living room.

Our 1st home's garden was of a perfect size, not too deep in the back. To the right you just can see our veranda.

The other end of the 110 meter long fence with our rock garden.

~

It was on March 9, 1984 that we also had our front porch tiled with the imported Dutch tiles and our garage got tiled with the leftover tiles from the Campbell mushroom farm that Pieter designed.

Just had scrubbed them with authentic Dutch Green Soap and mopped it dry with a real Dutch dweil...

Our tiled garage... also scrubbed clean!

We both loved our 'new' garage with tiles!

Do you have tiles in your garage or front porch?

In our present home we also do...

Related link:

On August 29 in 1983 we arrived as Immigrants in Georgia, USA | previous post by me

Husband Pieter Doing it ALL | previous post by me showing the now tiled patio and wall added for privacy—done by Pieter of course

My 3rd Home with my French DMC Rose Filet Lace Crocheted Curtains | showing the new front door with windows and my crocheted curtains...

A HUGE Snapping Turtle | previous post by me

MOST PRECIOUS GIFT OF LOVE for both of us—MOM'S REQUIEM on VIDEO One Hour Later

 Not being able to be present at the funeral of Mom due to Pieter having had another heart attack and I myself having still therapy for my left hand—felt devastating.

But my BEST Friend Ellie went to the funeral with her daughter Elvira (our Goddaughter) and Elvira's husband had asked his boss permission for using the professional video camera—so he could capture Mom's Solemn Gregorian Requiem Mass

No words can describe what this meant to both of us for being able to watch it on my Mac just over an hour later...Below this video on YouTube you find clickable links with explanation in English and way below also in Dutch.Dad did select the special Kyrie Eleison deliberately as Mom sang it as a 1st soprano with the elderly choir for more than 25 years and for some 18 years with Dad together in the same choir.~Both of us were in The Netherlands on October 11, 1997 and went to Mass where Mom & Dad for the FIRST time ever—sang together in the elderly choir. Quite a historical fact.
Related links:My Angel Sister who Died TWICE | previous post by me about the denial by my sister to give Dad an equally solemn Gregorian Requiem Mass... Just now I can finally post Mom's Requiem Mass and for the rest we can only PRAY for those that denied this to my DadThinking about Mom and Dad on Saint Cecilia | previous post by me where Mom & Dad sing: I Pray To the Power of Love and what the choir also sang at Mom's Requiem Mass at clickable link 46:55{February 21, 2014 Tornado in our Subdivision} | previous post by me—Tornado while we went to Mom & Dad's Wedding Anniversary...

FORUM at Mushroom Conference — Last Surviving Pioneers

Pieter has often been in an Open Forum...

Like here below in Scottsdale, Arizona during the Spawn Mate Symposium 

Open Forum moderated by Don Betterley. 

Shown left to right: Barry Holtz, Pieter Vedder, Paul Wuest, Hans Tschierpe, Lee Schisler and Jim Sinden.

Spawn Mate Scottsdale Symposium Program

11:00 AM OPEN FORUM

followed by the above mentioned names...

After the FORUM we had Reception and Dinner Dance in the Crystal Ballroom...

Pieter looking spiff in his Burberry tuxedo...

Wearing with it, his silk paisley bow tie and cummerbund.

For some mysterious reason, that same bow tie got lost in Maastricht during the ISMS Conference in the year 2000...

You should have seen us—almost stripping the entire room—in vain!

Happy me—always after my Pieter's excellent performance — and now a relaxing evening!

Wearing my batik skirt from Indonesia and linen lace blouse.

~

Fond memories of all the FORUM members and that over many years!

BUT as of today, only two of those pioneers are still alive and that is Barry Holtz and my Pieter J.C. Vedder.

Sadly...

Jim Sinden passed away on December 20, 1994—born November 12, 1902

Sadly Paul Wuest passed away on September 05, 2006—born February 26, 1937

Hans Tschierpe passed away on April 15, 2009—born 1930

Lee Schisler passed away on October 27, 2021—born 1928

In our newest publication: modern mushroom growing 2020 harvesting ←click link

we did mention on page 415 — SINDEN, SCHISLER...

May all of their names never be forgotten by the mushroom industry!

Related links:

Pieter J.C. Vedder at Mushroom Industry Short Course Pennsylvania State University | previous post by me with sessions by Sinden, Vedder, Schisler and Wuest.

Dr. James W. Sinden was one of Pieter's mentors | previous post by me

{1987 Scottsdale Arizona versus 2014} | previous post by me

Pieter J.C. Vedder at Mushroom Industry Short Course Pennsylvania State University

 On Tuesday, June 11 of 1985 husband Pieter replying to random questions about general mushroom culture—during Mushroom Industry Short Course at Pennsylvania State University.

Aron Kinrus made this video below—sorry for its very poor quality!

But don't forget to click CC for subtitles/closed captions!

Pieter at his best—off the top of his head replying to those questions...

Watch on YouTube and click on CC for subtitles/closed captions in English!

Yes, as the exam board of wur.nl – Wageningen University & Research wrote: the use of tools, he is one of the very best (see link below)P.J.C. Vedder's 1987 Design for NEW COMPOSTING SYSTEM (Phase I) ←click link for Pieter's Wageningen University grades...

28th MUSHROOM INDUSTRY SHORT COURSE

in pink: Vedder, Pieter

Vice President, CAMSCO Produce Co., Inc. Dudley, Georgia

With yellow marker enlarged here below:

Tuesday, June 11, 1985

Tuesday Afternoon, Keller Conference Center

• General mushroom culture, room 402 — Vedder

Pieter conducted this together with scientist colleagues: Sinden, Schisler, Wuest...

Related link:

Husband Pieter's Design for the Campbell Mushroom Plants in Dublin, GA and Hillsboro, TX | previous post by me

Dr. James W. Sinden was one of Pieter's mentors | previous post by me

1982 Sinden Award for Pieter at The Hotel Majestic, Harrogate, England | previous post by me

Precious Gift from Best Friend Ellie—Mouth Blown Glass Nativity

What is this season all about?

The Third Sunday of Advent is coming and all this leads up to CHRISTMAS the birth of our PRINCE OF PEACE.

Like to share with you a display of a beautiful nativity scene.

My dear friend Ellie gave it to me, the year we had our 25th wedding anniversary.

She for years volunteered at a Dutch 'Wereld Winkel' or Fair Trade shop.

Mouth blown glass with strokes of silver to mark hands, wings and halos. 

Baby Jesus in his manger... with an oxen to the left.

This is art work from the Andes.

Mary with her silver lined halo and the angel with silver lined wings and halo, besides their hands and some brush strokes of silver on the garment. Air bubbles are still visible...

I've placed it on a silk brocade tablecloth that Pieter did bring home from China when he went with the People to People Citizen Ambassador Program. 

See more info about the Ambassador Program at: {Silk Embroidered Birds from China Trip}.

That is a treasure of course and even more so, since Pieter got to see how they do make such silk brocade.

It is a handmade tradition of more than 2,000 years and originally only was for the emperor.

Watch this short video → Chinese brocade (Hello China #85)

Silk Brocade; fit for our PRINCE OF PEACE

Our Permanent Resident Angels & Cross Stitch for Christmas

Just reposting this 2011 post...

On November 9, I did already write about Our Living Room ANGELS - CHERUBS that have taken up permanent residence, not only for the Christmas season. All our ANGELS - CHERUBS are the REAL thing, made out of special wood and hand carved in South Tyrol, Italy. So here they are shown once more to you as they sure belong to the Christmas season.

The golden wreath we added for the Christmas season...

Quite an angelic population on our mantle... They are our Permanent Residents!

From Bad/Münstereifel, Germany I did bring this pure linen cross stitched Christmas bow back home.

The edging of the linen band is done in gold and the hand embroidered cross stitching also used gold for the stars as well as for some contrast stitching.

Hard to capture on photo.

I've just finished a scan from this bow & stars cross stitch pattern, for those of you that are interested in it.

Look for it below and feel free to print it out.

My German friend Marlene, did bring me a second one when she and her husband Egon did visit us after their tour through Mexico.

They are hung each year in the living room from the doorknobs of the oak wall unit.

This is the scan and I put it as a larger size. The width of the linen band is 7 cm or 2.8"

The entire cross stitch pattern is 11 cm long or 4.3" so you can determine the thread count accordingly.

If you love it as much as I did at first sight, okay - here is the pattern for you.

Just a small Christmas gift from me—to my loyal readers!

~~*~~

Obviously many visitors loved this... 11,044 views.

Related links:

{6 Antique & Vintage Italian Angels, Cherubs Putti} previous post by me
{Our Living Room ANGELS - CHERUBS} previous post by me
{Our Living Room} previous post by me
{5 Angels - Putti from Italy & Germany} previous post by me

Broccoli Toast—My Attempt...

Goddaughter Elvira did serve such delicious Broccoli Toast while I was in Limburg.

Sure, she is a Lady Chef and an excellent one!

This is what Evira served my best friend Ellie (her Mom) and me...

So, once back home in the USA, I did ask Elvira for the recipe.

BROCCOLI TOAST

Ingredients:

• 8.5 oz broccoli rice
• 1.5 tablespoon of coconut oil
• 3 eggs
• 1 tablespoon of coconut flour
• 4 oz smoked salmon
• 2 avocados
• flax seeds to garnish

Instruction

1. Heat a frying pan with the coconut oil and sauté broccoli rice for a few minutes. It may just be al dente. Let cool a little.
2. Add the eggs and the coconut flour. Mix well and let stand for a while.
3. Heat a frying pan and spoon 1 tablespoon of the mixture into the pan if it is hot enough and bake brown. Bake all broccoli toast like this.
4. Serve with the smoked salmon, flax seeds, tomato, basil and or avocado.

Sauté broccoli rice

Adding the coconut flour.

Adding the eggs...

Trying to form the toast patties...

Baking them brown...

And there is my very humble version of Lady Chef Elvira's professional Broccoli Toast.

Tried this on July 5th and have been searching for some ready broccoli rice to repeat and perfect it...

NOPE.

So this is it—a humble form of Elvira's perfect Broccoli Toast.

Served on a heated Pillivuyt plate on a Le Jacquard Français linen rose placemat.

Related link:

In Limburg with Friends | previous post by me

Long Lost Friend Rita FOUND!

Yay—we found RITA after 30 years!

In this regard, social media can be a great help for finding long lost friends.

Just like with our previous lost person from our Life in Italy...

Read below post.

Rita Ruzwan...

It was her husband who first found my post on FB Page and he reacted.

What a joy to find such a comment...!

Rita sure has not aged since we met in 1991.

Indeed, FRIENDS are ANGELS of LOVE!

Related link:

HELP ME FIND INDONESIAN ABOEL HASAN AS'ARIE & WIFE RITA | previous post by me

{YES, I did find the Italian artist who did my chalk drawing!} | previous post by me

{HELP ME FIND ITALIAN ARTIST M. SOTGIU mother of Luigi Tramarollo} | previous post by me

Meeting with Mushroom Grower Nick Pora in Metcalf, Ontario Canada

 We did rise early at our Fairmont Château Laurier, for having breakfast and to get on our way. 

Nick Pora Sr. on the left, with Pieter at his Continental Mushroom Farm

On Tuesday, August 18, 1998 we had received a fax at the Fairmont Château Laurier, for our meeting next day.

So after breakfast we got on our way for FINALLY visiting Nick's mushroom farm!

Nick Pora, was also a loyal customer of my Lacquered Brass Window Decorations 'Mushrooms' in two sizes.

Below post you find some links for actually seeing them.

Guess Nick came to the Dutch Mushroom Days in June of 1988, where I had a stand for selling those.

Nick Pora, also had enclosed these cards with that letter...

CHAMPIGNON — CONTINENTAL —MUSHROOM

Producers of some of the best mushrooms in the world

Nick Pora, hailed from Romania and in 1972 he came to Canada with only $ 5.00 in his pocket.

With hard work, he managed to build himself up and run a successful mushroom farm.

Already during the 1st NAMC at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco he met Pieter in 1979.

See link below this post with his photo.

Again, at the 12th NAMC Conference in Vancouver he begged us to visit him.

But Ottawa is not a city we often flew into...

So this time, when using our frequent flyer miles for a vacation to Canada, we planned it such, that we would end in Ottawa and then drive to his place.

We first met at the mushroom farm's office where we also briefly saw Virginia Pora, Nick's lovely wife.

Nick Pora Jr. and Nick Pora Sr. at almost 82 years of age (September) and Pieter.

In February, Nick had lost 40 lbs (18 kg) of weight after their return from a vacation in Aruba.

Me, Nick Jr. and Nick Sr. at the restaurant for lunch.

Nick Sr. had taken us via the compost slab, to a first break room, full with product.

His skills for mushroom cultivation proved to be good.

Then he took us to the Packaging area.

THE BEST WE EVER SAW!

They used a barcode with ratings: 1–2–3–4 or cannery (for worst quality). Beautiful white product!

A Chinese 'mama' ran the packaging including a clean floor; no spills! 

We were both very impressed and told Nick so.

They daily handled 13 tons of fresh product.

Both of us felt very happy for finally having fulfilled his request to visit him!

Fond memories of a long time friendship.

Next day we did check out from the Fairmont Château Laurier, drove to the airport and returned our Herz rental car after driving our 987 km or 613 mi. 

By 11:00 o'clock we flew via Newark, New Jersey on Continental Express, to Atlanta, Georgia.

That was the end of our memorable Canada Vacation!

Related links:

Fairmont Hotel, San Francisco, CA 1st North American Mushroom Conference | previous post by me where Nick Pora attended

Dutch Mushroom Days and Selling My Own Design of Brass Mushrooms | previous post by me

{My Own Design of Brass Mushrooms} | previous post by me

NS Train of 5:40 to Schiphol Airport and Flight HOME

 It is not easy when the final hours are slipping through your fingers...

Here we are, rising around 4:00 AM in order to be at the Train Station by 5:30 to catch the train from 5:40 to Schiphol Airport.

At 5:35 with friend Sissy next to my suitcases.

Bringing home some of Mom & Dad's treasures en sentimental things...

I'd come to The Netherlands with my Delsey suitcase inside the big pink one. 

My one way NS Horst–Sevenum to Schiphol Airport train ticket...

In one hour and 58 minutes we would be arrive by 07:41 at Schiphol Airport.

A Happy WeFie...

Ellie and I...

And one inside the train...

At Schiphol Airport there was NO COURTESY!

Dutchnews.nl wrote the above that Schiphol has been grappling with the problem since the May school holidays. Hundreds of flights have been scrapped... due to staff shortages!

Dutchreview.com wrote the above...

Staff shortage and also strikes

It felt great for finally having made it to the accelerated check–in (they did not let me pass at first; very rude...).

Schiphol Airport was a FAR CRY from the courtesy received in Savannah and also in New York!

My seat turned out to be the FIRST row with added space

DELTA PREMIUM SELECT seat 20D

Once my suitcases got labeled, and I had my boarding pass, we all three went to have a FINAL cup of cappuccino or whatever...

At 8:11 AM, I paid this for some bread and croissant for Sissy as they had to once again travel the two hours by rail back home...

By 8:26 I got the message via my Delta App on KPN server in NL, that my bag was now onboard, of course also received the same message for my 2nd bag!

Now the FINAL GOODBYE arrived and it was very emotional.

I waved till I no longer could see them...

Security check went fine, no shoes needed to be removed and all went swift.

Then I had to get in line for Passport Check... that was the longest line I've ever seen!!!

Wish I'd used my Strava App, as I walked a lot!

At the gate, again I awaited very rude treatment; ZERO COURTESY!

Felt awful for two elderly couples, using a wheelchair and they had it already folded up.

Then we got ushered through the so–called pre–boarding...

NOPE—we ended up in a holding area with NO CHAIRS!

Okay, we all made it to the plane eventually, but what a far cry from the once great service and courtesy!

Bye–bye Netherlands...

My ADJUSTABLE FOOTREST was working this time!

Also received my TUMI AMENITY KIT not on my way over...

AMS – JFK total time 7 hours and 29 minutes

Past Ireland...

Now more than halfway...

As said, Premium Select seat 20D was right behind the wall, with extra space, easy to get up for using the restroom.

The blanket felt cozy and warm and I did wear my down puffer jacket, once in my seat, had stuffed it inside my Delsey back pack.

Wrapped up cozy...

The extended leg and foot rest was great and I never even used my plump pillow, it stayed in the front of my seat in its plastic cover.

Emotional goodbyes over the last few days but I was going HOME to my Pieter!

Arriving in New York and again lots of walking!

On my Delta App, I got the Gate Change, even farther walking...

The final stretch of this emotional journey now to Savannah...

Seated in 7C in Comfort

Bye–bye New York...

More steps for Savannah but the BIG SURPRISE was that we landed 35 minutes ahead of schedule.

So I used the restroom, then grabbed my two bags and went outside, on the Delta curb and called Pieter with his private driver Mike.

They were surprised, they'd just walked inside for using the bathroom and now learned that I already  was outside with my suitcases.

In no time we were in the car and heading HOME.

Feeling a lot of GRATITUDE for so many that made this an unforgettable time!

My final time going to my country of birth...

Dear friends and family will remain forever inside my heart and I treasure the many fond moments.

May God keep us all healthy!

Related links:

Visiting Friend Mariëlle in Husband Pieter's Province | previous post by me

Visiting Niece Caro Because She Visited Us in Georgia... | previous post by me

Sunny Day for Walking in Limburg with LOTS of Humor | previous post by me

Biking in my Province of Limburg | previous post by me

Limburg 4Days Marches — Fun Fair and Dinner with Friends | previous post by me

Visiting Castle Gardens Arcen with Friend Ellie | previous post by me

Food for Body and Soul in Limburg | previous post by me

Walking in Limburg in Beautiful Nature | previous post by me

Limburg — The Emotional Part | previous post by me

In Limburg with Friends | previous post by me

Flying on Delta Premium Select–Savannah to Amsterdam | previous post by me

Back Home from my 67th Trip to Limburg in The Netherlands | previous post by me