Sorghum Growing in Georgia

Of course, being the son and daughter of a market gardener, we always had an interest in crops growing in the fields.

A rather new crop for both of us, was this field with Sorghum bicolor, seen on August 12, 1985.

Do you know this grain?

Cattle Egrets in Georgia

Being an immigrant from another continent, it is quite interesting when you start discovering nature in your new surroundings.

Cows in a meadow and hundreds of Cattle Egrets (Bubulcus ibis)! 

Have you ever seen them?

This was near the Campbell Soup mushroom farm on August 12, 1985

Magnolia Grandiflora or Southern Magnolia

Coming from The Netherlands it is quite different in climate and for having already warm days in May, with many exotic looking flowers in the wild, was quite a discovery.

Here I am on a Sunday, end of May, 1984 holding up a HUGE Magnolia Grandiflora or Southern Magnolia.

Also I'm holding a branch of Lonicera japonica Thunb. or Japanese honeysuckle that has been introduced to North America in 1806 in Long Island, NY.

Now it is a national invasive species!

In the spring, even when driving by car, you still do pick up the sweet scent of its fragrant flowers.

Trumpet Vine or Campsis radicans

Another exotic looking discovery in May of 1984, our very first spring down in Georgia, USA

We discovered this exotic looking Trumpet Vine or Campsis radicans when coming out of Mass and snipped off some flowers for a photo, to send to our Parents in The Netherlands.
Pieter's Mom was still alive at that time... Every Sunday I wrote her a letter about the week's events.
Yes, it is a native vine here and attracts hummingbirds!
It can become invasive though as its many suckers grow very fast and also its seeds will grow up again.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture lists the vine as an invasive weed...
To us it was a new, exotic discovery!

Poncirus trifoliata or Japanese bitter-orange

Sure enough when immigrating to another continent, you want to explore your new surroundings...

We usually did so on a Sunday, afternoons as we would drive around and look what all was growing in our area.

Here, Pieter is holding a little branch from a tree that we were puzzled by.

It turned out to be a Poncirus trifoliata or Japanese bitter-orange.

Mean thorns and tiny green fruits as it was May 24, 1984.

Many more things to be discovered...

With Dad to Atlanta, Georgia

On Wednesday, December 5 of 1990, I drove with Dad to Atlanta around 9:30.
We first went to a store near the airport for picking up two faux Ficus Trees and next we went to Lenox Square. After lunch at Neiman Marcus with Popovers and strawberry cream and a cup of chicken consommé we did some shopping.
On the 7th, we all would be flying across the Atlantic Ocean again...

On my way over to Lenox Square I did briefly exit at 249C for standing here and making this photo for Dad.
The Westin Peachtree Plaza, 2nd from left is perfectly visible!

Here you can see part of Atlanta Downtown on the way back South again as Dad took it through the rear window - including my faux Ficus Trees...

Our mission for getting these two faux Ficus Trees to make our new home look somewhat more lived in...

From a distance...
We had to leave within two days and the garden would be worked on while we were gone!

Thanks for your visit and comment.

Related links:
Uncle Bo Whaley gave Dinner in Honor of Dad | previous post by me
Dad in Savannah, Georgia | previous post by me
Dad Sang The First Noel and Thank You Lord at Presbyterian Church | previous post by me
With Dad to Okefenokee on the Georgia/Florida State Line | previous post by me
Blessing of our New Home with Dad being Present | previous post by me
Visiting Museum of Aviation in Warner Robins, Georgia with Dad | previous post by me
Dad Visiting Chappell Grist Mill Dublin Georgia | previous post by me
Dad did tag along on November 11, 1990 for helping us move into our new home | previous post by me

Visiting Museum of Aviation in Warner Robins, Georgia with Dad

On Tuesday afternoon, November 27 of 1990, we went with Dad to Warner Robins Airforce Museum.

As you clearly can see, we had a lovely, sunny day on November 27!
Dad loved reading all the information about the exhibited planes.
This Aviation Museum has been open to the public since 1984.

Next month The Museum of Aviation 35th Anniversary Celebration  (click on link).

Both, Pieter and I have been to the Museum of Aviation numerous times with our guests but it remains a very interesting place to go to!

It looks like Dad is shooting me in this picture...
Dad recognized several planes that he knew from WWII

Photo opportunity enough!

Dad really had a ball!

Studying this DOUGLAS C - 54G SKYMASTER

Hope you enjoyed some of the photos of this magnificent Museum of Aviation.
You can click on the website's: AIRCRAFT EXHIBIT GALLERY to see more...

Thanks for your visit and comment.

Related links:
Dad Visiting Chappell Grist Mill Dublin Georgia | previous post by me
Dad did tag along on November 11, 1990 for helping us move into our new home | previous post by me

Dad Visiting Chappell Grist Mill Dublin Georgia

On Sunday, November 26 of 1990, we did visit with Dad the old grist mill; Chappell's Mill which is rather close to our home.

Dad standing next to the antique Chevron pump at Chappell's Mill.

Chappell Grist Mill Dublin Georgia, Georgia Promotions and Aerial Imaging just click to see this 1 minute drone video!
Yes, this screenshot from above short video shows that the Grist Mill got built in early 1800!

Husband Pieter (left) and Dad pondering over Chappell's Mill water...

How much Dad always loved the SPANISH MOSS trailing from the trees here in the South.
This was in November!

More Spanish Moss and Dad...

Chappell's Mill, Georgia―by Mickey Maust click link please.

Hope that you, like my Dad, did enjoy this little bit of History here in Dublin, Georgia!

Thank you for your visit and comment.

Related link:

Dad did tag along on November 11, 1990 for helping us move into our new home | previous post by me

Stone Mountain Scenic Railroad with Mom & Dad and again with Pieter

Pieter had gone to China and Taiwan as a People to People Citizen Ambassador and meanwhile I went to The Netherlands.

After three weeks, Pieter briefly got reunited with me in The Netherlands and did some business for Campbell Soup in Europe that included traveling to England,  Switzerland and Austria... (see post below).
We flew back home on April 20, 1987, to Atlanta, USA, with Mom & Dad in tow for their very first flight and visit with us the coming 4 weeks.
On May 16, I would fly back to The Netherlands with Mom & Dad and did consulting work in Germany for 2 weeks before returning to the USA.
Pieter meanwhile was in Australia and in Christchurch, New Zealand for Campbell.
~ 
But on April 28, while Pieter was working for Campbell Soup, I took Mom & Dad to Atlanta for riding the Stone Mountain Scenic Railroad with them.

Mom & Dad are standing in the center in front of the train that we rode around Stone Mountain.

Stone Mountain Park Georgia's No 1 tourist attraction:  click the link

Summit Skyride at present time, just click it.
This picture also shows best the Confederate Memorial. You can read more when you click on the pink.

Mom & Dad standing now before the Stone Mountain Rail Road Station and with the Confederate Memorial visible above them as I stepped far enough back.

It is HUGE, the top of the summit is 1,686 feet (514 m) above sea level and 825 feet (251 m) above the surrounding area.
To the right you see Dad pointing out something to Mom...

It was a lovely day!
Was wishing then that Pieter could have joined us...
~

On Saturday, August 8, 1987 the same year, we both went with our friend Griffin to Stone Mountain!

So happy that Pieter got to see it now as well!

So this time Pieter too got to ride the train around Stone Mountain and we hiked the 2.5 km to the summit!

Yep we dared to hike up to the summit!
Pieter wearing his Burberry polo shirt with Ghurka shorts.

What a view!

We made it back down, just in time before a thunder storm!

Pieter in the center, behind that boy...

It sure felt like being on top of the world...

We even stayed for the Laser Show!

Miss those two director chairs that Pieter got from Campbell Soup.
We had them in our front porch and a friend who watered the plants while we were abroad, had used the sprinklers and left them on without removing the chairs; they got ugly rust stains...
At least I got this photo!

Laser Show at Stone Mountain Georgia click for more info...
We spent the night in Atlanta and next day we started with breakfast at 7:30 AM and went to the Cyclorama and to the Zoo in Atlanta... Yes, a city with LOTS to see and do!

Hope you enjoyed these fond memories and thanks for your visit and comment!

Related links:
Taking Husband Pieter back to Knoxville, TN in Mom & Dad's Footsteps | previous post
{Part XVI of Husband Pieter's Trip to East Asia - Taipei, Taiwan} | previous post by me
{Mom Lived 16 Days Short of Her 91st Birthday} | previous post by me with Mom & Dad's words in guest book

Written by my husband Pieter: MEMORIAL DAY - FREEDOM HAS ITS PRICE

This post is written by my husband Pieter J.C. Vedder.

A very personal story, that highlights Memorial Day.

May the younger generation come to appreciate the true meaning of FREEDOM...

Over the years, the two most asked questions we have had to answer have been: where are you from (because of our accent) and also; do you like it here.

The answer to the first question is quite simple; we came to this country from The Netherlands almost 35 years ago and in 1993, we both became American citizen. 

Then the second question; Do we like it here? You bet! We both really LOVE this great country, especially the South and not the least, Laurens County.

Perhaps you like to hear a few reasons for our love affair with this country and especially with Georgia.
First of all, there is the ample living space for everybody. Compare this: the state of Georgia is 4.7 times bigger than The Netherlands, but has only about half the population. 

We once bought a lot in the Venice area of Italy, where we lived and we had to pay over 40,000 US dollars for approx 8,500 sq. ft.(0.195133 acre). We paid less here for a couple of acres. 

Taxes in the US are also lower then in most European countries (although the Democrats in this country are trying hard to match them). We also found it relatively easy to integrate in this community; the people in general are friendly and perhaps less nosy and envious then in Europe.

Then there is the climate. Okay, we might have some hot days and we have gnats and fire ants. But if you think that you are better off shoveling your car out of a pile of snow (we lived in Pennsylvania too) you may have it.

But what we appreciate most, and what many Americans, especially the young generation, take for granted, is the personal freedom. 

As a teenage boy, I have experienced what it means to loose your freedom. Especially the last year from the five years under German occupation has had a big impact on my life.
For months we have been under heavy artillery fire. (We lived close to the German border and the river Rhine). Shrapnel wounded me; we had to leave our home and village and had to evacuate to another part of the country etc. Many families lost loved ones as the result of bombardments. The Germans executed two sons 17 and 23 from a befriended family staying with us, my middle brother just escaping that ordeal. 

We were lucky that we lived in the countryside (my dad was in the greenhouse business) therefore we always could find something to eat but the people in the big cities were really starving. When, on September 17, 1944 the Operation Market Garden started in our area (near Arnhem) dropping thousands of paratroopers to secure the bridges over the rivers we thought that the war would soon be over for us. We were wrong; we still had to wait almost half a year. 

Can you imagine the feelings we experienced when, in April of 1945 the American troops and their allies finally liberated us. I will never forget that day in April when we came back to our small village from our half-year evacuation, finding the greenhouses flattened and most of the houses ruined, including ours. We slept that night, rolled in an old carpet (we didn’t have a bed yet) and when we woke up, the sun was already shining. My dad put his arms around us and said; we are the richest family on earth; we are all free and alive.

Thank you America, we will never forget what you and your Allies did for us and we will never forget that so many young and brave Americans, among others, have given their lives for our freedom.

Margraten overview of American Cemetery in Limburg, The Netherlands

The pictures show the American Cemetery: Fallen But Not Forgotten in Margraten of the Province Limburg where Mariette is born and where we both lived. This is the final resting place for 8,301 young American soldiers. Freedom has its price!
The Dutch observe their Remembrance Day May 4 and Liberation Day May 5, but they've made it a tradition on the Sunday before the U.S. Memorial Day to pay tribute to the American service members who fought for freedom and are now buried at the cemetery in Margraten.
Today is the 73th time that they observed this.

Seen on one of the photos is: William A Mc Kenna Jr Capt 121 INF 8 Div Georgia Dec 25 1944…

Photos taken by my brother: Martin Van den Munckhof except overview cemetery.

Related links:

{Margraten - Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial in my Province of Limburg}
12½ jaar L1 - Amerikaanse president in Limburg | President George W. Bush visits Margraten on May, 8 in 2005. He did stay at the Château Hotel, St. Gerlach and was very complimentary towards the Staff. Proud of my Province of birth Limburg!

President Honors and Commemorates Veterans in the Netherlands - Margraten, The Netherlands | From White House Archives May 8, 2005
Dutch Queen and Bush lead VE Day memorial | YouTube video

May the younger generation come to appreciate the true meaning of FREEDOM...

Indeed: May the younger generation come to appreciate the true meaning of FREEDOM...

MEMORIAL DAY - FREEDOM HAS ITS PRICE

click the above link to a previous post written by my husband.

The above photo, taken by my brother Martin Van den Munckhof is so touching.

WILLIAM A. MC KENNA JR from Georgia, resting in Margraten my former Province of Limburg... At the American Cemetery in The Netherlands.

May the fallen heroes that fought for our FREEDOM R.I.P.

10th Birthday Trader Joe's Midtown Atlanta

Today, April 17 of 2017 I did drive again to Atlanta and as usual we stopped first at Trader Joe's Midtown.

Lo and behold, they had their 10th Birthday today!

Before I knew it, I was told that my outfit did match their LEI, so they put one around my neck...

For driving the long distance I did wear my Nanette Lepore Floral Printed Leggings from Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5th with an older Escada t-shirt.

Pieter took this photo of me outside the store, wearing my LEI...

Curious about the beginning of Trader Joe's, I looked up 'Our Story' (just click the pink hyperlink) and found out that it all started in the 50s... It is derived from the German ALDI.
Happy to have them but would love to have them closer to our area!

Got tired from the 3-hour drive back home.

Will visit you as soon as I can, two busy weeks ahead!

Thanks for your comments and visits.

Spaghetti Junction in Atlanta, Georgia - Worst Truck Bottleneck in America

Whenever we do run our rounds of shopping at Costco Wholesale, Whole Foods Market and Trader Joe's in Atlanta, we have to drive 242 km or 150 miles; one way.

Due to very heavy traffic on our way home on Monday, I could finally send my location via WhatsApp from Spaghetti Junction in Atlanta, Georgia/USA.
Spaghetti Junction ranked worst truck bottleneck in America - just click on pink link.

Yes, it is called the WORST Truck Bottleneck in the Nation!

It always has been quite impressive to drive here! Mind boggling...

We did 13 miles or 20 km in 40 minutes time from our start at Whole Foods on Roswell Rd.

Of course I have to avoid driving south on I-85 as a segment has collapsed there two weeks ago today.

A miracle that no one got injured when it collapsed!

MASSIVE Fire on I-85 Near Atlanta (Bridge Collapses) - link to video.

State Of Emergency After Atlanta Bridge Collapse | NBC Nightly News - link to short video showing also the non-combustibles that got stored under this bridge. 

Today, April 13, President Trump meets with I-85 bridge first responders.

It was a great honor to welcome Atlanta's heroic first responders to the White House this afternoon! - click pink link.

President Donald J. Trump has promised $ 10,000,000.00 to help rebuild this section.

President Trump Meets with the I-85 Bridge First Responders - video

It is estimated that by mid June it should be open again.

Meanwhile we have to weave our way through spaghetti junction, at least on my way out of Atlanta!

Going north, I do know some local roads to bypass the collapsed I-85 segment.

This is in satellite view from where I was.

Mind boggling to see that many roads going over each other.

Feeling sorry for those truck drivers that have to deliver almost all what we eat and what we consume!

May your road be always safe and even with some slow or still standing traffic, as long as no accidents occur; we can be happy!

I made it home in 3 hours on Monday, not bad and our felines did not have to wait long for their supper.

This also explains why I enjoy a stay at the Hyatt Place Atlanta/Duluth/Johns Creek in-between driving home, as mentioned in my previous post! I'd rather be walking their Scenic Walking Trail around the Community Lake instead of sitting in this Spaghetti Junction!

Thanks for your visit.

14-01 Atlanta #01: GA-400 to I-85 South to Downtown at Twilight - This is exactly the route I follow, when coming back from Costco, going home to the south...

Love to drive it!

You can view it in this very short video above (pink link).

The Connector is 12-16 lanes of mayhem which can be intimidating for those not used to this kind of road and traffic.

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