Happy Reunion with Swiss Kuhn Family & United States Consulate for our Permanent Visa

 

On Sunday, January 22 of 1984, Hans Jörg Kuhn, the son of Jörg Kuhn whom Pieter knew for decades, was our guest.

I'd cooked a delicious dinner, according to Pieter's writing in our diary...

We surely enjoyed our time together!

Hans Jörg Jr. was visiting Dublin to see the new Campbell farm, that Pieter designed, in operation. 

On April 20, 1984 on Good Friday, we both flew with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines to Amsterdam, The Netherlands and friend Jan Thielen picked us up at the airport.

Both of us stayed with Pieter's eldest brother in Horst and walked to garage Timmermans for picking up our rental car.

It was Easter Weekend and on Tuesday, we did rise early for catching the 5:50 train to Rotterdam for going to the United States Consulate in their new building, across from the eye surgery hospital where Pieter was a few years earlier for his 1st implant lens...

We first went to the Dutch G.G.D. (Municipal Health Services) for having lung X-rays made. We had to wait for the results and got the images as documentation. 

By metro to another doctor for medical examination and blood tests. 

By 13:30 with these results back to the United States Consulate. By 16:30 we were done after lots of questions, finger prints and solemnly swearing that we had filled in the truth. 

Finally our long day got rewarded with a heavy, sealed parcel, for our Permanent Visa with a bill for 800 Dutch Guilders!

That was the start for both of us to become a United States Citizen but only after living here for five more years, and paying all our taxes and keeping a clean record as everything got checked.

This was during President Reagan's time, with still very strict rules for becoming a United States Citizen!

We never could vote all that time; now all rules are out of the window...

On April 25, 1984 we both flew from Düsseldorf, Germany to Zürich, Switzerland after first driving one hour...

Jörg Kuhn's daughter Barbara with her husband Max, came to pick us up. 

We had lunch at an old restaurant, high in the mountains with beautiful view.

My FIRST introduction to Switzerland was breathtaking.

Wearing my hand knitted and hand embroidered sweater...

Arriving at the home of Barbara & Max in Waldstatt, Switzerland.

A perfect sunny day... 

Don't you love the lush green meadows, right behind their home?!

I've always said, that IF I have to reincarnate as an animal, I want to be a cow for grazing in the Appenzell area of Switzerland – it almost made me want to stand on 'all fours' for grazing...

With some borrowed shoes we all went hiking...

Resting on a bench...

We climbed up to where snow was still on the ground...

Barbara & Max had somebody pick us up at the road, so we did not have to walk the entire stretch back home!

Doing the hike, poor Pieter got attacked by a German shepherd that tried to bite him!

He managed to kick him off his trouser legs; scary as those were Pieter's ONLY trouser that he'd taken as he'd left his suits hanging on the armoire at his brother's home. 

We got up a bit too late and had to rush, rush...

My 1st day in Switzerland; stay tuned for next post.

Barbara's brother Hans Jörg did stay with us in Dublin, Georgia on September 18 till 21, 1984.

In May of 1985, Hans Jörg Kuhn with their manager August Enzler were our guests in Dublin, Georgia

So we certainly did stay in touch!

Related posts:

Pieter Co-Speaker at ISMS in Amsterdam-Wageningen 1965 | Mentioning Jörg Kuhn Visiting A.G.

Husband Pieter's Design for the Campbell Mushroom Plants in Dublin, GA and Hillsboro, TX

Linfield Mushroom Compost Facility in England | Mentioning Jan Thielen

{My Hand Knitted & Hand Embroidered Sweater} | About the Hand Embroidered Sweater that I wore

Husband Pieter Doing it ALL | manager August Enzler and Hans Jörg Kuhn on new patio in May 1985

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

The Kitty I Had Already so I Ordered the Hand Knitted Sweater

In the Dutch Nouveau magazine I fell in love with this...

You could order it from Nouveau, handknitted and ready to wear; which I did.

Here I am with kitty Spooky II, and wearing the hand knitted sweater.

My sister Diny did mail it as a parcel from The Netherlands to Georgia...

Spooky was a happy boy!

Related link with previous post by me:

{Our Felines - Sweet Spooky II...}

Arts & Crafts Shows in Mall and Library

Once more an attempt to participate in a local Arts & Crafts Show.

On October 19, 1985 at the Local Mall

Due to very poor publicity, none of us vendors sold anything...

Well, I did sell for $ 12.60

December 7, now at the local library but once again they proved their very poor publicity.

Closeup with a Spanish born gentleman that also tried to sell...

Me, showing a hand crocheted bridal lace handkerchief, done by me...

After our visit to the Hungarian mushroom conference, I felt so badly for those poor people under the Communist regime, so I started importing their things in order to HELP some.
Those hand embroidered boxes and hearts are from Hungary.

Heart shaped boxes with hand embroidery from Hungary, and some crocheted doilies done by me.
Also I'd added some of the Delft white items like candleholders and vases.
Sold for US $ 62.14 but at least I tried to help some people in Hungary...

Related link:

Pieter Created Board for my Crafts Sale in Fayetteville, Georgia | previous post by me

Pieter Created Board for my Crafts Sale in Fayetteville, Georgia

Not being allowed by Campbell Soup at that time to work within the USA in the mushroom business, I did create a lot of handwork.

Also trying to deplete my Mom's vast stack of yarn, by buying it from her and bringing it home after each visit to Europe.

Aside from crocheting and knitting myself, I also gave classes at my home.

Once, I even forced myself to crochet with my left hand in order to teach a left-handed lady. 

I practiced myself, presuming that I'd had an accident and no longer could use the other hand... Felt mighty proud for pulling it off. 

When Pieter came back from giving a seminar at the 28th Mushroom Industry Short Course at Pennsylvania State University on June 10-12, 1985, he brought home some black and white boards for me.

He built me this display rack with those boards, and set it up at the Courthouse in Fayetteville, Georgia.

Yes, I'd crocheted doilies, curtains and framed window decorations.

Also I had crocheted net darning lacework into metal rings for hanging in the window.

Using up lots of Mom's stash of yarns.

Oh sure, this was very profitable!

Also knitted sweaters and lace edging on towels. 

Sitting there on Saturday, June 15, after driving one-way two hours and setting up everything, I sold for the astronomical amount of US $ 47.00

But: KEEP SMILING...

August 29, 1983 We Immigrated to the USA

Already 37 years ago since we moved from The Netherlands to the USA...

Easy to remember as it was on my youngest brother Jan's birthday.

Little Mauzie the Dachshund flew with us.

She was a feisty little girl, and lived exactly to the day 2 years as an immigrant doggie...

Miss her, she was oh so smart and easy.

Husband Pieter and I, with Mauzie stand at the site for the Campbell Soup mushroom plant, on November 26 of 1983.

Wearing my hand knitted sweater.

Mom is Being Posthumously Honored for her Knitting

Mom's 5th Mother's Day in Heaven...

She no doubt is smiling proudly down from heaven because of the many views of her fabulous knitting!

Mom wrote in a letter from September 17, 1986 (my Maternal Grandma's B'day...) that she'd asked the lady from the yarn shop, for placement of her knitted bedspread at the Hiltho Exhibition.

Hiltho Exhibition is every 4 years since 1967, and is the biggest in the South of The Netherlands.
Mom had tried so hard for the Hiltho '86 exhibition from 26 September till 1 October... click link; then click through.
It just didn't work out for having her work displayed at the Hiltho... to have a booth there was too expensive for the yarn store!  But the store owner told her she should bring it for the coming winter, to have it as window display instead.

That's what happened and here my Mom is proudly standing in front of the shop's window with her beautiful work!
I'd forgotten that I too had knitted several squares, before immigrating to the USA...
Mom mentioned that in her letter!

This is Mom's letter, neatly handwritten as so many that I received over the years!
Mom was very happy with the offer to have it as window display instead.
She wrote that my sister–in–law Elly, brother Harry's wife, very dedicated was helping her getting all the knitting finished. Elly also had taken the squares apart and rejoined them in a different way, as she'd seen from one of the patients at the nursing home where she worked.

It was quite emotional for making these bedspread photos on February 21, 2014, before going to the hospital again for visiting Mom during her dialysis.
Deep inside I KNEW that this would also be the very last time I would see her alive...
My gut feeling proved to be right.

Less than a year later, I would be up all night and do Face Time with my youngest brother, who sat together with my 2nd brother, at Mom's bedside. Seeing, hearing Mom and talking to her for the very last time.
It was then when I did compose a beginning for a FAREWELL, or EULOGY, to be read...

*

Going Home...

Daddy, brothers and sisters, sisters-in-law and partner, nephews and nieces, family and friends...

We are together in warmth and gratitude to honor our Mother.

A dear wife, dedicated Mother for all of us. Her entire life she has given love with an enormous big heart; without asking much for herself.

This last trip of 17 days away from D'n Afhang, was a difficult route for her but she has accomplished it with pride. She wanted to go home with all her heart, for finally putting her tired head to rest close to Daddy, in her own beloved place, where 7 of her 8 children were born.

Eight children, of which I am the second and our eldest sister is now finally again with Mom!

She almost made it for being married to Daddy 66 years; in love and sorrow.

Working hard her entire life, and yet in her way always trying to pamper us.

She was able to cook delicious tomato soup from own cultivation, with yummy fried onions. Her spare ribs with home-made tomato paste and fried onions were also a favorite.

Baking for the entire family she did also with much love and she herself was fond of ginger cake... 

She also loved nougat, that I always brought her back from the fun-fair!

She loved to knit and crochet and in the photo she proudly poses in front of the window where her large knitted bedspreads hung.

Together with Daddy she made trips to Germany, and also to Paris and even four times to Georgia in the USA. Proudly she always said she had two daughters in America; one in great America.

On her bike, she often went to little America on Tuesday’s, on market day, with a gift for her first grandchild. 

Meanwhile Mom had passed away and that stopped my writing...

Never could finish it...

*
In Dutch:

Naar Huis...

Papa, broers en zussen, schoonzussen en partner, neefjes en nichtjes, vrienden...

We zijn bij elkaar in warmte en dankbaarheid ter ere van ons Moeke.

Een lieve echtgenote, toegewijde Moeke voor ons allemaal. Ze heeft met een enorm groot hart haar hele leven liefde gegeven; zonder veel voor zichzelf te vragen.

Deze laatste reis van 17 dagen weg van d'n Afhang was een moeilijke route voor haar maar ze heeft het met fierheid volbracht. Ze wilde met heel haar hart naar huis om daar op haar eigen geliefde plek, waar 7 van haar 8 kindjes geboren werden, haar moede hoofd eindelijk te rusten leggen dicht bij Papa. 

Acht kinderen, waarvan ik de tweede ben en onze oudste zus is nu eindelijk ook weer bij Moeke!

Bijna heeft ze het gered om met Papa 66 jaar getrouwd te zijn; door lief en leed.

Hard gewerkt haar hele leven en toch op haar manier altijd geprobeerd om ons te verwennen.

Ze kon lekkere tomatensoep koken van eigen teelt, met heerlijke gebakken uien. Ook haar ribjes met tomatenpuree en gebakken uien waren een lievelingskostje.

Bakken voor het hele gezin deed ze ook met veel liefde en zelf was ze dol op gemberkoek... 

Ze lustte ook zo graag nougat die ik haar altijd meebracht van de kermis!

Breien en haken deed ze graag en met trots staat ze op de foto voor de etalage waar haar grote gebreide bedsprei hing.

Met Papa samen maakte ze reisjes naar Duitsland en ook naar Parijs en zelfs vier keer naar Georgia in de USA. Trots zei ze altijd dat ze twéé dochters in America had; een in groot America.

Op de fiets ging ze vaak op dinsdag, markt dag, naar klein America om haar eerste kleinkind weer iets toe te stoppen. 

Ondertussen is Moeke gestorven en kon ik niet meer verder schrijven...
Helaas heb ik het nooit afgekregen...

*

This year, on my Angel Sister's heavenly Birthday, I noticed a tremendous increase in views for Mom's hand knitted bedspread, on my Pinterest.

January 11, 2019... Mom's Bedspread was at the TOP!

Hard to believe these figures, yet it was there and on my blog, almost every day, Mom's picture was in the sideline as one of the favorite posts!

Love seeing this photo...

Mom ranks right there in my TOP blog posts and that in only five years!

In seven years she ranks 3rd! 

16,309 views...

It made me so happy and feeling oh so proud of her, for being Posthumously Honored for her Knitting!!!

*

Happy Mother's Day!

Related link:
{Mom's Hand Knitted Bedspread as Window Display} | previous post by me
{HAPPY Mom on her 90th Birthday - THANKS TO ALL OF YOU} | previous post by me, when I took the bedspread photos...

{Feeling Pampered with Silk/Wool Cap from Blogger Friend}

Oh my, on Christmas Eve, I was for the last time out of the house and than a very bad flu floored me literally.

Did not even notice that 2015 ended... it went past me.

Only on my Dad's 95th Birthday I managed to be up in the late morning and call him in The Netherlands.

From than on I improved, but did not want to be out in the nippy, windy weather as the warm temperatures from Christmas had suddenly dropped, even getting some night frost.

What a surprise when on Thursday, January 7, the mail delivered a parcel from France.

A sweet hand knitted gift from Anett from the blog: Faden Stille whom I follow since 2010. We have become virtual friends!

Friday, January 8, I did join Pieter for Rotary lunch and afterwards I did wear my silk/wool cap for taking a walk. Wearing of course my coat as well!

Spunky girl looks fluffy during the cold weather.
Me, showing off my crows feet from a great smile...!

Driveway is still damp and the weather dreary looking...

But our Verbena continues blooming inside the fiber glass window boxes from Flower Framers of Cincinnati!

Enjoying my Chanel boots; bought from tip money for consulting work in California!

You can read more about that here: {My Favorite Boots}

My silk/cashmere Jodphurs from Bergdorf Goodman 1994 still fit me perfectly and I love wearing them in winter time.

Matching cables in my Escada silk/cashmere sweater from December 26, 1993 - actually my very first Outlet score bought at Potomac Mills in Prince William, VA. We were traveling by car to the funeral of our Jewish friend in Delaware when we stopped at this Mall for lunch.

Thanks a lot Anett for so much WARMTH!

It warms the heart and the ears on a nippy winter's day...

{Mom's Hand Knitted Bedspread as Window Display}

Before my Mom came to visit us for the very first time here in the USA, she had the honor of having her Hand Knitted Bedspread as Window Display at 't Schippertje. Of course this was the shop where she had bought all the knitting yarn. I've always loved that leaf pattern, as a matter of fact, I do have two favorite sweaters with leaves. See links below this post...

Here Mom stands proudly in front of the shop's window where her hand knitted bedspread is being displayed.

Funny to look at this photo as at present, I am the same age as Mom was here in mid April of 1987...
Only weeks before Mom with Dad would fly back with us to Georgia/USA.

Not that long ago, Mom decided to start using this bedspread again...

Here it is on their queen size bed and I made this photo on February 21, before going to see Mom again during her dialysis in The Netherlands.
Strange for being for a brief moment on the other side of the ocean... seeing the photos they keep from me in their bedroom (to the right hanging and small one standing below, next to the one from Mom).

Four days later, the big ocean would once more be in–between my Parents and me.

This is such a lovely design!
A better view of those knitted squares with leaf pattern in the center.

Don't you also love this leaf pattern with ajour edges?

Mom for sure is smiling down from heaven, with so many views of her fabulous knitting!

Views on my Pinterest page (just click it)
~

Click on photo to enlarge...
Here follows an English version:

Size: 130 X 240 CM.

MATERIAL needed: Synthetic wool 2700 gr of natural colour; 5 double-pointed knitting needles 3mm

SQUARE PATTERN: follow the chart

The work is done in rounds on 4 needles. We show you in the chart a quarter of a square; each pattern must therefore be repeated 4 times in each round.

Cast on 8 stitches, placing 2 stitches on each of the 4 needles.

Follow the chart for the odd numbered rounds.

Knit every even-numbered round, (2^nd, 4^th, 6^th etc.) working the 1^st stitch of each repeat in twisted knit stitch.

Work rounds 1-48, then purl 2 rounds. Cast off.

Knit 45 squares in total.

TRIANGLES: Cast on 7 stitches. Work back and forth across the rows. Work the odd-numbered rows from the chart, beginning each row with an edge stitch, then working the pattern 2 times and ending with a knit stitch and an edge stitch. Purl the even-numbered rows, working twisted purl stitch into the twisted knit stitches.

Knit 22 triangles in total.

EDGING: Cast on 9 stitches. Round 1: Knit 1, * increase 1, Knit 2 together in twisted knit stitch, repeat from * 3 times.

Round 2 and all even-numbered rounds: Knit 1, increase 1, knit to end.

Round 3: Knit 2, then repat from * as in round 1. Continue thus until there are 16 stitches.

Next even round: Work as for round 2.

Next odd round: Cast off 7 stitches, knit to end. Continue to repeat from round 1 until the work measures 7.5 m. Cast off.

FINISHING: Pin out the squares and triangles, cover with a damp cloth, press lightly and leave to dry.

Join together on wrong side with backstitch. Begin at lower edge by sewing 3 squares in-between 4 triangles, then add 4 and 3 squares alternately to end. Sew 4 triangles at the other end and 7 triangles along each side. When all squares and triangles have been joined together, sew on the border neatly.

Related link:
Italian Crochet Terms and U.S. Crochet Terms | translation for being able to understand the above pattern.
{ME, Turning 20 on December 3!} | previous post with my knitted leaf pattern sweater.

Mom is Being Posthumously Honored for her Knitting | later post 

Ancient Grey Stuart Tartan fabric from Chester UK | later post showing the hand knitted leaf pattern